
Class 
Book. 



G]|P^^■°- 



(^SSRIGHT DEPOSIT 



!- 



/12 







QJ\- Juniperc ' ->^^?2^;Sf~) 



Mt^ <i i''ii.,u^^iyi& d 5r 



LIFE OF 



Ven, Padre Junipero Sep 



WBITTEN BY 



Very Rev. Francis Palou, 



Guardian of tlie Convent of San Fernando, Mexico. 



TRANSLATED BY 



VKRY RKV. J. A.DAM. 



SAN FRANCISCO: 
P. E. Dougherty & Co., Book akd Job Printers, 412 Commercial Street. 

1884. 



Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1884, by 

REV. J. ADAM, 
in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



DEDICATION. 



MOST UEV. ARCHBISHOP: 

To whom could I dedicate this book on the life of Father Junipeeo 
Seera more appropriately than to Your Grace, who for thirty-four years 
has held the Episcopal Staff? To-day, the thirtieth of June, 1884, 
Your Grace celebrates the thirty-fourth anniversary of your Conse- 
cration as Bishop, Your Grace was the first to bear the title of 
Bishop of Monterey. To you then belongs the dedication of these pages, 
consecrated to the memory of Padre Junipeeo Serra, who planted the 
Cross at Monterey, and who labored and died but a few miles from it in 
his Mission of Carmelo. Besides, as Your Grace has been Metropolitan 
of this Ecclesiastical Province since 1853, it is but just that on that 
account, without any reference to your many virtues and merits, which of 
themselves merit the distinction, I should thus dedicate my humble labors. 
Permit me therefore to offer you these pages as a token of affection and 
esteem. 

Yours in Christ, 

J. ADAM. 

Los Angeles, June 30th, 1884. 

Most Rev. J. 8. Alema'ny, Archbishop of San Francisco, Gal. 



PREFACE. 



Nowadays it is the common practice to publish the lives 
not only of saints and heroes, but even of persons of very 
little or no merit, whose promotion from deserved obscur- 
ity is calculated to injure rather than benefit the world. I 
do not deem it necessary to make any apology for pre- 
senting to the public a translation of the life of Padre 
Junipero Serra, the original of which was written in 
Spanish by his companion, Father Palou. Though there 
may be a few copies of this work translated into English, 
I have been unable to find any. In fact Fr. Serra's life 
by Palou is so scarce in the mother tongue that the few 
copies extant are estimated at the highest value. It is 
true that the principal facts of our hero's life have been 
published now and again by many California authors, 
but a full account of his career cannot be found except in 
the Spanish edition published in Mexico in 1787. 

As it is proposed during the current year to celebrate 
the first centennial of the death of Padre Juniperro Serra, 
I thought it might not be amiss to contribute my mite in 
this endeavor to perpetuate the glories of the founder of 
the Missions of Upper California. 

While abler pens than mine are preparing long and 
elaborate essays on the life and apostolic labors of the 
humble son of Saint Francis, let the people of California 
with forebearing generosity pass over the many deficien- 
cies they will find in this translation, and remember only 
the cordial afi'ection with which it is offered. 

t Imprimatur, 

FKANCISCUS MOEA, 

Bpiscopes Montereyensis et Angelorum. 



LIFE OF 

Ven.FatherJuniperoSerra 

FIRST APOSTLE OF CALIFORNIA. 



CHAPTEK I. 

Among the saintly sons of the Seraphic St. Francis, 
there are few more remarkable than the first Apostle and 
evangelizer of California, the Yen. Fr. Junipero Serra. 
This holy priest and fervent religious was born on the 
24th of November in the year 1713, in the town of Petra, 
in the Island of Majorca. His parents were Antonio 
Serro and Margarita Ferrer. From the pious training they 
gave the young Junipero we may judge they were good 
christians, who loved and served God. Antonio was a 
farmer and the worthy couple were noted among the 
villagers for their industry and uprightness. 

Junipero^ was baptized the very day of his birth and 
received the names of Michael and Joseph, which names 
he retained in confirmation. It is a general custom in 
Spain to confirm children while they are quite young and 
accordingly Junipero received this sacrament on the 26th 
of May, 1715, in the parish church where he had been 
baptized. 

At an early age Junipero was well instructed by his 
parents in the rudiments of the holy Catholic faith; they 
took care to take him to hear mass at the convent church 
of St. Bernardino where the Franciscanvfathers resided ; 
at the convent he learned among other things, latin and 
the gregorian chant. 



From his attention to his studies, and still more from 
his pietj and docility the parents of Junipero concluded 
that God had blessed their son with a vocation to the 
priesthood. To foster his piety they took Junipero to 
Palma, the Capital of Majorca, and placed him under the 
charge of a Beneficiary priest of the Cathedral. As time 
passed on, the ardent wish to be a religious took posses- 
sion of the soul of Junipero, and faithful to the inspira- 
tions of grace he presented himself to the Yery Kev. Fr. 
Anthony Perello, the Provincial of the Franciscans who, 
seeing that he was small and delicate, postponed his 
reception for a time. However, as he was over the 
canonical age, Junipero received the Franciscan habit, 
on the 14th of September, 1730, and was admitted, as a 
novice, into the convent of Jesu, outside the city walls. 

During the year of his novitiate, Junipero studied 
carefully the austere rules of the Franciscans and read 
the lives of the many saints, which that glorious Order 
has given to the church; like another Ignatius of Loyola, 
this reading inflamed his heart with love and zeal for 
souls; he particularly delighted in the lives of those 
saintly men who were employed on the missions among 
pagan and savage nations. On one occasion, with tears 
in his eyes, he remarked, "During my studies I had a 
most ardent desire to leave my country and go among the 
Indians; I took a resolution to that effect." How this 
desire was fulfilled, we shall see in the following chapter. 
The year of probation being ended, Fr. Junipero was 
professed on the 15th of September, 1731. On account 
of his great devotion to one of the first companions of St. 
Francis — Friar Juniper — he took that name in holy pro- 
fession ; such was his spiritual joy on that solemn day, 
that each year he renewed his vows on the anniversary 
and when occasion offered he would assist at the profes- 
sion of a novice with pious emotion, saying with fervor : 
"All good came to me on the blessed day of my holy 
profession." The good Father continues — "while I was 



a novice I was so small, that I could not read at the 
chorister's desk, so I was employed to serve mass. I 
was sickly during my novitiate, but scarcely had I been 
professed when I recovered my health and strength and 
grew to a manly height." After' his profession Fr. 
Junipero was transferred to another convent of the 
Order, to study philosophy and theology, and he made 
such rapid progress in these branches that, even before 
he was ordained, he was made professor of philosophy, 
and before the end of the philosophical curriculum 
received the title of Doctor of Divinity. As a teacher he 
was most successful, and many of his pupils received, 
later the highest honors in this branch of science. Teach- 
ing, however, did not prevent Fr. Junipero excelling as a 
sacred orator. His sermons were listened to with the 
greatest attention, even by literary men; his last sermon 
in Palma was so much appreciated, that a famous orator, 
not friendly to our Apostle, whispered at the close: "this 
sermon is worth being printed in letters of gold." The 
humble Fr. Junipero however, did not seek the applause 
of men in large cities, his only ambition was to preach 
the christian doctrine in small towns to a rude peasantry, 
and still more did he desire to go and bury his brilliant 
talents amongst the uncivilized children of the forest. 

Numerous were the conversions of great sinners, which 
followed the preaching of the Lenten sermons by Father 
Junipero. 

On one occasion a woman, possessed by the evil spirit, 
arose in the midst of the audience and said : ' ' shout ! 
shout ! as much as you wish, for you will not finish this 
Lent." The Yen. Serra writing to his friend Father 
Palou said: "thanks to God I enjoy good health and in 
spite of the assertion, of the father of lies, to the contrary, 
I hope to finish well this season of Lent." 



CHAPTER II. 

SERRA SOLICITS AND OBTAINS PERMISSION TO GO AMONG PAGAN 
NATIONS-HIS VOYAGE TO CADIZ-THENCE TO AMERICA. 



Whilst Junipero was the object of great applause, both 
in the pulpit and in the chair of the professor, his desire 
to labor for the conversion of the pagan nations, made 
itself more and more strongly felt. However, that he 
might not take a false step, or be mistaken, he made 
novenas, and performed other pious exercises, begging God 
to enlighten him and give him grace to know and do His 
most holy will, praying at the same time that He would in- 
spire some of his fellow-religious with a like desire. We 
may well imagine his great joy, when Father Palou, enter- 
ing the cell of our hero a short time after, told him that 
he had come to ask his advice, concerning an inspiration 
which he felt, to labor for the conversion of souls among 
pagan nations; and asked him what he thought about it. 
Serra's reply was: "For a long time I have had a similar 
desire, the only obstacle to its fulfillment being the want 
of a companion— thank God! the obstacle is now re- 
moved! Let us unite in soliciting from the Commissary 
of the Indies authority to join those missionaries of the 
"Propaganda" who are destined for America." After 
some difficulties he obtained the permission he so much 
desired, and after preaching the Lenton sermons, bade 
farewell to his hearers, and to his parents, concealing 
from them, however, his noble project of crossing the 



Atlantic to evangelize savage and pagan nations. Then 
taking leave of his companions, and kissing the feet of 
all religious, even to the last novice, he, with Fr. Palou, 
set sail for Malaga on the 13th of April, 1797. It hap- 
pened that the captain of the vessel was a fanatical and 
narrow-minded heretic, who soon began to dispute with 
Fr. Junipero, on religious subjects, so that the poor 
Father had scarcely time enough to recite his breviary. 
The captain was a very ignorant man, and consequently 
very proud, and he would become furious when during 
the disputations, the Yen. Serra would defeat his fal- 
lacious objections against our holy faith. He had for his 
authority an old protestant bible, and when the good 
Father quoted texts to refute his assertions, the captain 
would answer, that the leaf was missing and that he 
could not find the quotation. One night he carried his 
rage so far, as to threaten the life of Fr. Junipero, hold- 
ing a knife to his throat as if he intended to kill him; but, 
seeing the Father willing to defend his dogmas with his 
blood, he desisted, throwing himself on his bed to 
assuage his wrath. Fr. Junipero, fearing, however, that 
he might again attempt to take his life and that of Fr. 
Palou, awoke the latter, and both passed the night in 
watching and praying. Next morning the captain ap- 
peared more calm, and during the remainder of the 
voyage he did not molest them. Fr. Junipero assured 
his companion, Fr. Palou, that he had never provoked 
the captain to dispute, but that he thought he was bound, . 
in conscience, to defend the truth of his religion against 
the heretical assertions of the assailant. On the day 
upon which the church celebrates the feast of the Patron- 
age of St. Joseph, the vessel arrived safely in the harbor 
of Malaga. The crew landed, and the Fathers repaired 
to the Franciscan church, where an hour later, Fr. Juni- 
pero could be seen in the choir, with the religious who 
resided there, reciting complin, and assisting at other 
devotions of the Order. He, with his companion re- 



10 

mained at the convent for five days; then, the vessel 
being ready, they set sail for Cadiz, where they were to 
meet the other religious of their Order, who were to cross 
the Ocean with them. The commissary informed them 
that five of those appointed, fearing to undertake the 
perilous journey, had withdrawn, and that there still 
remained three vacant places. Fr. Junipero then wrote 
to his convent of Palma, and encouraged by his example, 
Fr. Verges, Crespi and Yicens joined them. The first 
part of the expedition set sail from Cadiz on the 28th of 
August, 1749. It consisted of a president and twenty 
religious, amongst -whom were Frs. Junipero and Palou. 
The voyage lasted ninety-nine days. The ship was very 
small, and having on board, besides the twenty-one Fran- 
ciscans, several Dominicans, and other passengers, the 
crew was soon put on very scanty rations, and water was 
given so sparingly, that they had scarcely enough to 
quench their thirst. Fr. Junipero seemed unmoved, 
and bore all these trials with great calmness and patience; 
being asked if he suffered from thirst, he would answer: 
' ' not specially, since I have found out the secret of not 
feeling thirsty, which is, to eat little and talk less, so as 
not to waste the saliva." Day and night, during the 
voyage he wore a cross suspended from his neck; he cele- 
brated mass every day, when the sea was not too rough, 
and employed the 'nights in hearing confessions. His 
humility and patience .attracted the admiration of all. 
Towards the middle of October the ship touched Porto- 
Kico for the purpose of obtaining a supply of water; the 
crew landed, and it being Saturday evening, the religious 
repaired to a hermitage, situated near the walls of the 
city. Whilst going ashore, the superior, being very 
busy, requested Fr. Junipero to go to the chapel, recite 
the rosary, and say a few words to those who assisted at 
that exercise. The devotion finished, the "few words" 
addressed by the good Father to those present, were the 
following: — "A mission will be given for the spiritual 



11 

consolation of the inhabitants of this place, which will 
last as long as the vessel remains anchored. I invite all 
to the cathedral to-morrow, at which time it will open." 
Great was the astonishment of the superior, and of all 
the religious, at hearing such an announcement, and 
being asked why he made it, Fr. Junipero answered: — 
*'I understood the superior to direct me to speak thus." 
The mission was accordingly given, and great and glori- 
ous were the results it produced. Such were the fruits 
obtained by the happy mistake of Father Serra, that we 
are told there was not one person who did not approach 
the sacraments, though many had not been to confession 
for several years. No missionaries had been there, nor 
mission given in nine years. On the 2nd of November, 
all being in readiness, they set sail for Yera Cruz, and 
towards the end of the month, when they were in sight of 
the harbor, a great storm arose, which exposed them to 
imminent danger of shipwreck. This storm lasted for 
two days, and it raged so fiercely during one night that it 
was universally believed that the end was near and all 
prepared for death. Fr. Junipero, though surrounded 
by perils, stood intrepid, and upon being asked if he was. 
not afraid, answered "a little;" but the thought of the 
noble end he had in view when he embarked, soon dis- 
pelled all fear. To increase the danger, during that same 
stormy night, the sailors became mutinous, wishing to 
force the captain and pilot to run the vessel ashore, 
thinking that they might thus be saved. Seeing all 
human means fail, the religious had recourse to heaven; 
each one wrote on a slip of paper the name of the saint 
he intended to invoke, and putting the slips together in 
one place, drew out the name of Saint Barbara; then all 
unanimously shouted: — "Long live Santa Barbara!" and 
the storm abated as if by magic. Two days later, and in 
favorable weather, they cast anchor in the harbor of Vera 
Cruz. This occurred on the 7th of December, the vigil 
of the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Once ashore. 



12 

they repaired to the church, where a solemn mass of 
thanksgiving was chanted by the Dominican and Francis- 
can Fathers, and Junipero was requested to preach on 
the occasion. He complied, and so well and so graphic- 
ally did he relate every little incident of the long and 
perilous voyage, that he astonished his hearers, who 
formed a high idea of his powers as an orator. The 
climate of Yera Cruz was so unhealthy, and the weather 
so warm, that Fr. Palou fell dangerously ill, and 
measures were taken to transfer the missionaries to the 
capital of Mexico. Fr. Junipero, asked and obtained 
permission to make the journey on foot. Without any 
provision or guide, he, with one companion, as intrepid 
as himself, undertook to travel in this arduous manner a 
distance of one hundred leagues, entirely relying upon 
divine providence, and the hospitality of the inhabitants. 
God, in whom they placed their trust, did not fail to help 
them in their necessities. Once, when overtaken by the 
darkness of night, before they could reach any settlement, 
and finding themselves near a river without knowing how 
or where to cross it, they were greatly perplexed; to stay 
there until daylight would be dangerous; so they had 
recourse to heaven, and to their celestial guide, the Im- 
maculate Mother of God, and when they had scarcely 
finished singing a hymn in her honor they thought they 
saw an object moving on the opposite shore; asking if 
any one was there, a man answered, telling them to go 
farther up, and to ford the river at the place he would 
designate; they did so, and having reached the opposite 
bank in safety, the man conducted them to his house 
where they were hospitably received and welcomed. 
There they spent the night; and the next morning, after 
having said mass, and before taking leave of their host 
and guide they asked him what brought him to the bank 
of the river the previous night; but, receiving no definite 
answer, they thanked God for His merciful goodness in 
their behalf, and their benefactor for his kindness and 



18 

charity, and departed. A few days after, having given 
to the poor the only loaf of bread they had, a man on 
horseback, who strongly resembled their, first deliverer, 
gave them a loaf of most delicious bread, which hunger 
made the more desirable. They then believed that God 
had sent St. Joseph, or one of His angels, to assist them 
in their necessities. During this rough and tedious jour- 
ney, Fr. Junipero received a wound in his leg, from 
which he never entirely recovered; but, in spite of the 
fatigue and the wound, they accomplished the journey in 
such good time, that our Pilgrims were seen on the 
evening of the last day of the year, 1749, entering the 
celebrated Sanctuary of our Lady of '* Guadalupe, " where 
they spent the night, giving thanks to God and His 
blessed Mother, for having brought them in safety to 
their journey's end. Next morning after mass, they di- 
rected their steps towards the capital, distant only three 
miles from the sanctuary. 



a)« 



''^W 



CHAPTEE III. 

FATHER JUNIPERO IS SENT TO THE MISSIONS OF SIERRA GORDA- 
THE GREAT ZEAL WITH WHICH HE WORKS— 
THE MISSION FLOURISH. 



On the first day of the year, 1750, Fr. Junipero crossed 
the threshold of the Apostolic College of San Fernando. 
The religious were at the time in the choir, and so edified 
was he, by their manner of reciting the office, that, turn- 
ing to his companion he remarked: — "We may consider 
ourselves well repaid for the fatigues of the journey, 
since we are to belong to a religious community which 
recites the divine office so devoutly." One of the 
first founders of that college embracing Fr. Serra, said : 
— "Would to God they would send us a forest of such 
' Juniperes ! ' " Fr. Junipero, with great humility, re- 
plied: "It cannot be as you wish." 

One afternoon, while the Eev. Father Guardian of the 
college was sitting in the orchard of the convent, sur- 
rounded by his religious, he expressed his joy at the 
arrival of so many missionaries, hoping that some amongst 
them might be encouraged to go to the conquest of the 
Indians of Sierra Gorda. Scarcely had he finished speak- 
ing, when Fr. Junipero offered himself, saying : — 
"Behold me Father! send me there," and animated by 
his example, many others showed their willingness to 
accompany him on the same mission. The Apostolic 
college of Santa Cruz of Querataro, was founded princi- 



15 

pally by Father Linaz for the conversion of the aborigines 
of Sierra Gorda. This rugged place is situated at a 
distance of thirty leagues from Querataro, but is over one 
hundred leagues in extent. Indians of the tribe of, or, 
nation '^Pame " lived amongst its rocks, and though sur- 
rounded by christian villages, they were all savages. In 
1743 Colonel Escandon was appointed General of that 
"■ sierra," and found in its centre many tribes of Indians, 
though the Augustinians on one side and the Dominicans 
on the other, had different missions at the foot of the 
mountains. In 1744,' missionaries from San Fernando, 
were sent to establish five missions amongst them, the 
principal of which was called Santiago of Xalpan. It 
was found that there were there 3840 Indians. Sickness, 
and other causes soon obliged the missionaries to retire 
from the place, but in 1750, Frs. Junipero and Palou, 
with others were sent to work amongst them. Though 
saddle-horses had been prepared and sent to them, Fr. 
Junipero preferred to travel on foot. In consequence he 
suffered much from the wound in his leg, which became 
greatly swollen and inflamed, but his courage was un- 
daunted. The Indians who numbered more than a 
thousand, received the new missionaries with every 
demonstration of joy. Fr. Serra, began immediately to 
learn the ''Fame" tongue, and then translated the christ- 
ian doctrine and prayers into their language. In a short 
time the Indians learned the principal mysteries of the true 
faith, and how to make their confession in their native 
tongue. To encourage them to comply with their religi- 
ous duties Fr. Junipero, like another St. Francis of Sales, 
went to confession every Sunday, in presence of the whole 
assembly. In this way, he had in many instances the 
consolation of seeing over a hundred persons go to holy 
communion, and numerous were the applicants for bap- 
tism. In order to teach the aboriginies to celebrate 
properly the feasts of our Lord and His blessed Mother, 
he was accustomed to sing mass, and also to preach to 



16 

them clearly, explaining the mystery they were celebrat- 
ing. During Christmas time he would have the youngest 
of his flock perform a play, wherein was represented the 
Birth of Christ. In lent, accompanied by his proselytes, 
he would make the '' Stations of the Cross" outside the 
town, halting at a little chapel built on the top of the hill 
which they called Calvary. During the devotions Fr. 
Junipero carried a very heavy cross. In Holy Week he 
performed all the ceremonies with scrupulous exactness, 
even to the washing of the feet of twelve poor Indians. 
On Good Friday he performed the ceremony of the 
''taking down from the cross," for which purpose he 
obtained a jointed image of our crucified Lord, and after 
the "Descent of the Body," he formed a funeral proces- 
sion to represent the burial of our Lord's Body in the se- 
pulchre. At night another procession was had in honor 
of our desolate Mother of Sorrows. Then, on Easter day, 
at a very early hour, he did homage to our risen Lord in 
a similar manner and also commemorated our Lord's 
appearance to His Blessed Mother. It is no wonder that 
aided by so many imposing ceremonies Fr. Junipero 
gained the hearts of all, and impressed on the rude 
minds of those simple people the mysteries of the life, 
death and resurrection of Christ. Crowds came from 
other villages to Santiago, to be present at the ceremonies 
of Holy Week, including those of Easter. The good mis- 
sionary endeavored to excite in their breasts the most 
ardent devotion to our Lord in the blessed sacrament 
and to the blessed Virgin Mary, for which purpose he 
obtained from Mexico an image of the Immaculate Con- 
ception, which he caused to be carried in procession 
every Saturday night, and the participants entered the 
church intoning the beautiful hymn "Tota pulchra es." 
Fr. Junipero was far from being a fanatic; he was a 
zealous Apostle, and while he worked for the spiritual 
concerns of his children, he did not neglect their tem- 
poral wants. He provided the mission with cattle and 



17 

sheep, and procured seed and grain to raise crops. He 
expended the three hundred dollars ($300) assigned by 
the government to each missionary, as well as all the 
alms received for masses, in procuring seed and provis- 
ions. As soon as those in his charge were able to raise 
crops in greater abundance than necessary for their 
wants, he taught them to sell the produce of their soil, 
and to buy in exchange clothes, blankets, animals, tools 
and household utensils. He instructed even the women 
and children in the ways of labor, working with them for 
encouragement and good example. When the Indians 
were formed in habits of industry, a piece of ground and 
a yoke of oxen and the necessary implements were 
assigned to each, and seeing his daily wants so well pro- 
vided for by means of his labor, this "child of the 
wilderness " was stimulated to work more earnestly than 
ever. Then the good Father seeing his charges fond of 
toil, taught them to build a fine stone church, and after 
seven years of patient toil this work of their own hands 
was erected. It was 159 feet long by 33 feet wide, and 
was adorned with an altar, pictures, and even an organ; 
a music teacher was then employed who instructed the 
Indians, and taught them to sing mass. Through the 
efforts of Fr. Junipero some of the Indians became car- 
penters, others blacksmiths, others masons and some 
even painters, the women learned to spin, weave, sew 
and knit. God blessed in a visible manner all his under- 
takings; the church was finished and paid for; the 
granaries were well filled, and the missions were in a 
most flourishing condition. Just as the good Father was 
beginning to enjoy the fruit of his labors, he received a 
letter from his superior, calling him to the conquest of 
souls among the "Apaches." With a smile on his lip, 
he bowed his head in token of obedience and prepared 
to take leave of his dear neophytes, amongst whom he 
had labored for nine years. As a trophy of his victory 
over hell, he took with him the principal idol of the 



18 

place, called in their language ''cachum," which means 
"Mother of the sun " A very old Indian was acting the 
part of a minister of the devil, in a little temple built on 
the top of a very high mountain, and to him the credu- 
lous Indians would have recourse, that he might intercede 
with this false divinity for them in their temporal wants. 
In order to contract marriage, they would present a slip 
of blank paper to the minister, and then imagined them- 
selves ^well and lawfully married. Baskets full of these 
slips of paper, and little idols were found by the mission- 
aries, all of which were burnt, except that already men- 
tioned as being taken by Fr. Junipero, and which was 
presented by him to his superior, to be kept in the 
museum of the convent. We are told that at the coming 
of the missionaries the pagan priest concealed the idol in 
a cave, and when the soldiers were sent to destroy the 
temple, (which, though built of the very combustible 
material, viz. : wood and straw, seemed invulnerable) they 
were unable to make it burn until the sergeant cried out : 
— Apply the torch in the name of God and his blessed 
Mother!" and then the structure took fire and was im- 
mediately consumed and a fetid smoke issued from the 
pile. After the conversion of the Indians, they related 
these things to Fr. Junipero, and showed him the place 
where the idol was concealed. When Fr. Serra had de- 
parted other missionaries continued to labor with equal 
zeal for the conversion of the "Fame tribe until 1770, 
when all being exemplary christians, the college of San 
Fernando, handed them over to the Arch-bishop Loren- 
zana, that he might provide for them with his secular 
clergy, according to the Apostolic bulls of Innocent XI., 
directing, that when the Indians were sufficiently well in- 
structed and christianized, they should be transferred to 
the jurisdiction of the ordinary. 



CHAPTEE IV. 



FATHER JUNIPERO SERRA EXRCISES HIS MINISTRY IN DIFFERENT 
PARTS OF MEXICO, BEFORE BEING SENT TO CALIFORNIA. 



The College of Santa Cruz of Querataro, had for 
many years desired to found missions in the war-like 
Apache nation. In 1758, the government of Spain 
granted the requisite permission, and the College of Quera- 
taro, and that of San Fernando, agreed to found two 
missions in the open plains of the river San Saba, distant 
400 leagues from Mexico. Fr. Alonso Terreros of Quer- 
taro, and Frs. Santa Estevan and Molina of San Fer- 
nando, planted the cross near the bank of the stream and 
about three leagues from the neighboring fort. For the 
first fifteen days they did not observe any Indians; but 
soon after there suddenly appeared at least a thousand 
savages, painted and provided with arrows and fire-arms. 
The missionaries received them with all attention and 
kindness, and tried by caresses and other marks of af- 
fection to gain their good will. However, the astute In- 
dians were not disposed to be friendly though they pre- 
tended otherwise, asking one of the Fathers to go with 
them to negotiate terms of peace with their countrymen. 
The Fathers tried to excuse themselves, but in vain; so 
Fr. Terreros offered to comply with thier demand though 
he was almost certain they would murder him. Taking 
leave of his companions, he said: — "Farewell ! Soon we 
shall meet in another world." He had scarcely gone 
a few yards when he was shot; Fr. Molina seeing he 
could do nothing in defense of his companion, took 



20 

refuge in a hut with a soldier, while the other Fran- 
ciscan, Fr. Santi Estevan, being alone in another hut 
was barbarously scalped by the savages. The soldier 
fired at them, but they only became more enraged, and 
set fire to the hut into which they had retreated; but, 
on Fr. Molina's throwing into the flames an "Agnus 
Dei," the fire was extinguished immediately; the Indians, 
notwitlistanding dared to approach but in their attempts 
to enter the soldier killed several of them. During the 
conflict a bullet penetrated the arm of the priest, and 
was not extracted for several years. The valiant soldier 
though wounded in both legs, continued to fire and de- 
fend the missionary till night, when exhausted by fatigue 
and suffering from the effects of his wounds, and seeing 
he could no longer maintain a defense, he persuaded the 
priest to make his escape and to take with him the wife 
and child of the soldier. The Father feared to make the 
venture, but placing his confidence in God, and invoking 
Mary, the "Mother of Sorrows," he passed through a 
window, and between two camps of Indians without being 
seen, and after three days arrived at the fort, bleeding 
and half dead. Soldiers were soon sent to the rescue, 
but on their arrival they found that the Indians had de- 
stroyed all and had abandoned the place. The news of 
this disaster instead of intimidating the missionaries, 
only aroused their zeal, and two others were appointed to 
take the places of those who had been murdered. Of 
these, Fr. Junipero was one, and though he was aware of 
the tragic end of his companions, he was preparing to go 
and face the enemy, when news arrived of the death of 
the viceroy, and in consequence the expedition was sus- 
pended. Fr. Junipero obedient to the voice of his su- 
perior, retired to his convent. From this resting place 
he frequently went to the populous cities of the country, 
there to preach to and convert sinners, many of whom 
were perhaps even more degraded than the benighted 
savages to whose wants he had been ministering. To 



21 

follow him everywhere in his labors and travels in behalf 
of souls, would occupy more space than the plan of this 
work will permit. It will suffice for us to mention the 
principal places where he exercised his zeal, from the 
time of his recall from Sierra Gorda, to his departure for 
lower California, a period of seven years. Twice he gave 
missions in the capital of Mexico, and like St. Francis 
Solano, he did penance for the sins of its people. Once, 
having uncovered his shoulders, he scourged himself so, 
unmercifully with a chain that the whole congregation 
wept and one of those present ascending the steps of the 
pulpit, took the chain from his hands, saying: — "I am 
the sinner who must db penance, and not the Father, who 
is a Saint." And the zealous convert immediately com- 
menced scourging himself so severely that he soon after 
died from the effects of the penance. The world may 
call the action of this poor man self murder, or suicide, 
but if he had a special inspiration from God to do so, he 
should be considered a martyr of penance. Besides other 
places, Father Junipero, gave missions in the diocese of 
Antequera — for eight days he was compelled to sail on the 
river Miges, suffering from heat and insects, and incurred 
great danger of being devoured by sharks; he was not 
allowed to go ashore because the place was infested with 
venomous reptiles, and lions and tigers roamed about at 
will. After the fatigues and perils of that voyage, he 
traveled one hundred leagues on foot. He, with his com- 
panions, employed six months of the year in giving mis- 
sions, passing from place to place, and it is believed that 
our Apostle walked two thousand miles in prosecuting his 
work throughout the towns and cities of the kingdom. 
The remaining six months he spent in his convent, there 
recruiting his strength and exercising himself in all the 
devotions and spiritual duties of the rigid order of St. 
Francis. Many wonderful things are related of Fr. Jun- 
ipero during this period. Once, after a long journey we 
were told, that as the shades of night were fast advancing 



22 

and closing in upon them, Fr. Junipero and his compan- 
ion began to feel some anxiety as to where they would 
lodge, when, close by the roadside there suddenly ap- 
peared a house and calling there, they were welcomed by 
a venerable old man, his wife and one lovely child. Next 
morning they departed and continuing their journey, met 
some muleteers, and being asked by the latter where they 
had spent the night, the good Fathers answered, *'in a 
house close by." On receiving this reply, the muleteers 
assured them, there was not a hamlet nor a house to be 
seen for miles and miles around. Hearing this, our pil- 
grims believed that their hosts were Jesus, Mary and 
Joseph. At another time, Fr. Junipero experienced in 
himself the promise of Christ to his Apostles — Gospel of 
St. Mark. (10-18.) "They shall take up serpents, and if 
they shall drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt 
them." It seems that once during the holy sacrafice of 
the mass, — at the time of Holy Communion, when con- 
suming the most precious blood, he felt as if a weight of 
lead had fallen into his stomach, and he was very unwell; 
however, he drank the wine used for purifying the chalice, 
but had scarcely swallowed it, when he was seized with a 
fit and would have fallen to the floor, had not the attend- 
ant assisted him. He was carried to the Sacristy, the 
vestments were removed and he was laid on a bed; all 
believed that he had been poisoned. A Spanish gentle- 
man hearing of the case, came in haste with a very effi- 
cacious antidote, but the Yen. Serra refused to take it. 
Being asked if he would have some sweet oil, he assented, 
and after having drank it, without effort he uttered the 
words of St. Mark's gospel quoted above. That very 
morning he attended the confessional, and the next day 
he was heard to preach as if nothing had happened. In 
the convent of San Fernando, already spoken of, there was 
afterwards seen an oil painting, representing Fr. Juni- 
pero with a chalice in his hand, from which a small snake 
was escaping. 



CHAPTEK V. 

HE:G0ES to CALIFORNIA— with FIFTEEN OTHER MISSIONARIES- 
HIS WORKS. 



The society of Jesus being suppressed in Mexico, in 
1767, the Yice-roy, the Marquis of Croix and the Yisitor- 
General Joseph Galvez, agreed to offer the missions of 
lower California to the Franciscans of San Fernando, 
Mexico. Though missionaries were then very scarce at 
the college, the superior found himself bound to accept 
the trust. The. number of Jesuits lately acting within 
this territory having been sixteen, as many Franciscans 
were appointed to take their places, although at first the 
government only asked for twelve religious intending to 
put four secular priests in the more advanced missions. 
Fr. Junipero was at this time giving a mission thirty 
leagues distant from Mexico. Nevertheless, the guardian 
well knowing his promptitude and obedience, appointed 
him president of the California missions, and' the humble 
religious repaired immediately to Mexico, to obtain the 
blessing of his prelate. The Yice-roy having prepared 
everything necessary for a journey to San Bias, 200 
leagues distant, wrote to the Superior-General, and on the 
14th of July, 1767, Junipero and his companions took 
leave of the community, and when the separation took 
place the guardian with tears in his eyes said: — "Go, dear 
Fathers, with the blessing of God, and of our Founder St. 
Francis, to work in the mystic vineyard of California, 



24 

which our catholic sovereign has entrusted to iis. Go 
with confidence, and with the assurance that all will succeed 
since you have Fr. Junipero for your superior, and by 
these letters I name him president of the California 
missions. Obey him, as you would obey me." He could 
proceed no farther, for sobs and tears choked his utter- 
ance. Fr. Junipero too, was so affected that he could 
not speak, and only kissed the hand of his superior. 
Crowds were in waiting outside the convent to take leave 
of the missionaries. Thirty-nine days passed before the 
Fathers reached Tepic — where they were informed that 
the Bishop had no priests at his disposal. From this 
point Fr. Junipero wrote to his superior, asking for four 
other missionaries to complete the sixteen, required to 
take the place of the Jesuits. While at Tepic they 
learned from the Colonel of the troops who were to ac- 
company them to California, that the packet-boats would 
not be ready to sail for some time; so Junipero and his 
companions employed themselves in giving missions till 
the first day of March, 1768, when they sailed for Cali- 
fornia. It was in the month of February that the packet- 
boat "Concepcion" carried the Jesuit Fathers from 
lower California, and this same boat conveyed our mis- 
sionaries to their destination. The vessel cast anchor in 
the roadstead of Loreto on the 1st of April. The day 
following being Holy Saturday the religious went ashore, 
and during the first three days of Easter week they sang 
high mass in thanksgiving to God for having brought them 
uninjured to their journey's end. Each missionary went 
to the locality assigned him^ and in some cases over three 
hundred miles were traveled. The Franciscans informed 
themselves of the regime observed by the Jesuits, and 
then strictly adhered to it. The Visitor-General Galvez 
arrived in lower California on the 6th of July, and landed 
at the small bay of Cerralvo in the southern part of the 
Peninsula, camping at Santa Cruz, three hundred miles 
from Loreto. He came not only with the commission to 



25 

visit California but also with the royal order to send a 
maritime expedition to colonize the harbor of Monterey, 
or at least that of San Diego. Informed of the state of 
the missions he deemed it best to proceed also by land, 
and. communicated his design to Yen. Junipero, who 
offered to go in either manner, and to furnish as many 
missionaries as were thought necessary. Meanwhile 
Junipero, without loosing a moment visited the nearest 
missions, and returning to Loreto found the letter of 
Galvez awaiting him, inviting him to go down to his 
camp near La Paz, to determine what was best to be done 
concerning the two expeditions. Although Junipero had 
already travelled three hundred miles without allowing 
himself any rest, still he made another journey of six 
hundred miles to consult the Visitor-General as to the 
welfare of the missions. These holy men agreed that 
three missionaries should go with the two packet-boats 
and two missionaries with the first portion of the land 
expedition, and afterwards the President should leave 
with the second division. They resolved to found three 
missions in upper California; one at San Diego, another 
at Monterey, and a third between the two places, the 
latter to be called St. Bonaventura. They began at once 
to pack up vestments and sacred vessels, and other 
articles necessary for church uses, as well as tools, 
utensils for tillage and household goods. Galvez took so 
much interest in these expeditions that he used to work 
as a common day-laborer. He helped Frs. Junipero and 
Parr on to prepare for the trip. When writing to Fr. 
Palou, he said: — "I am a better sacristan than Fr. Juni- 
pero, since I packed the articles for my mission of San 
Bonaventura more quickly than he did for his of San Car- 
los, so much so that I went to his assistance. He provided 
the ships, not only with tools, but also with all kinds of 
orchard and other seeds. He caused the vessels to be 
duly examined and coated with tar, which he obtained 
from the Pitayoo. He also ordained, that the expedition 



26 

should take two }aundred head of cattle from the roost 
northern mission of Lower California. This stock under 
the charge of the mission Fathers, increased with aston- 
ishing rapidity. Everything being arranged, the visitor 
appointed a day for sailors and soldiers to go to confes- 
sion and Holy Communion. Before sailing, Fr. Junipero 
blessed the commander's ship and had a mass celebrated 
in honor of St. Joseph, whom he named patron of the 
expeditions, and he ordered his priests to sing a mass in 
honor of St. Joseph, on the 19th of each month to invoke 
the help and protection of the Holy Patriarch in their 
undertaking. The ship sailed on the 9th of January, 
1769, Fr. Parron being of the party. There were on 
board the chief commander of the expedition, D. Vicente 
Yila, a guard of militia 25 in number, with their 
Lieutenant Pedro Fages; the engineer, Miguel Constanzo, 
and Pedro Prat, physician of the royal navy, and in addi- 
tion the officers and crew. They had scarcely left the 
harbor, when Fr. Junipero started for his mission of 
Loreto, and on his way stopped at that of St. Francis 
Xavier for the purpose of visiting his friend Fr. Palou, 
and presented for the caller's consideiation his projects 
of spiritual conquest. The second ship, called the San 
Antonio, and also known as El Principe, had anchored 
at Cape San Lucas. There Galvez went, and having 
made the necessary repairs, he witnessed its departure 
on the 15th of February. Frs. Vizcaino and Gomez 
sailed upon this packet, and before they weighed anchor 
the Visitor-General exhorted the sailors and soldiers 
to obey and respect the missionaries. Another ship, the 
San Jose, was soon after put in readiness for the voyage 
and set sail on the 16th of June, but was never heard 
from. 



OHAPTEE VI. 



THE EXPEDITION BY LAND. 



Like Jacob, fcheVisitor-General in his prudence ordained 
that the land expedition should consist of two divisions, 
one commanded by Porfcala; captain of dragoons and 
Governor of California, and the other by Rivera, captain 
of the company of Cuera (or leather jacket.) 

The latter left the camp of Santa Ana, September, 
1768, and upon arriving at our Lady of the Angels, a 
place then inhabited by natives, Rivera saw that there 
was no pasture for his flocks, and he therefore advanced 
eighteen leagues where he found a spot called by the 
Indians Yellicata. 

Fr. Crespi was ofderd to join this expedition and upon 
his arrival everything was in readiness. Besides the cap- 
tain and twenty-five soldiers, there were in the party a 
guide whose duty it was among other things, to take ob- 
servations; three muleteers and a band of neophyte Tn- 
ians, all well armed with bows an arrows. After a jour- 
ney of fifty days they arrived at the harbor of San Diego, 
where they discovered the two packet-boats anchored. 
Cattle, horses and mules were left at Vellicata, to be at- 
tended to by the second division. The Governor and 
troops went in the van at the request of Fr. Junipero, 
who remained at Loreto until Easter, to give an oppor- 
tunity to all the Christian Indians to fulfill their Easter 
duties. Accompanied only by two soldiers and a servant, 



28 

he departed from Loreto, stopping again to see his old 
friend Fr. Palou, who was very much moved at seeing 
the swollen condition of Fr. Junipero's foot and leg, 
the more so when he remembered the length of the 
journey to be taken and the absence of medical skill. Fr. 
Junipero stayed three days with Fr. Palou, who tried to 
persuade him to remain permanently and offered to act 
as his substitute, but Serra replied, "Say no more about 
this matter, I have placed my trust in God and I hope 
I will reach, not only San Diego, there to plant the cross, 
but Monterey as well." 

Great was the sorrow of Fr. Palou, at parting with his 
friend, especially when he saw with what difficulty he 
mounted or rather was assisted on the mule. Tears rolled 
down his cheeks when he heard Fr. Serra say, "Farewell 
till we meet at Monterey," for Palou seemed convinced 
that they would never meet agaia in this world. 

Junipero went from mission to mission, taking leave of 
the Padres and giving them instructions, and great was 
his fatigue when he arrived at Yellicata, where the Govern- 
or and others were encamped. As the troops remained 
there for some time the country was explored, a few huts 
and a little chapel were built, and Fr. Junipero in con- 
cert with the Governor thought it advisable to establish a 
mission there which would facilitate intercourse with San 
Diego. On the 14th of May, the Feast of Pentecost, they 
erected a cross, blessed it and dedicated the chapel to 
San Fernando, leaving Father Campa for its minister. 
Father Serra sang the mass and delivered a short sermon 
on the mystery of the feast. We are told that they had 
no other lights for that mass but a taper and a small 
piece of candle, the firing of the musketry taking the 
place of the organ, and the powder that of the incense. 
Having to leave so soon, Junipero had not the consola- 
tion of seeing any one baptized, but four years after, 
when the mission was transferred to the Dominican 
Fathers there were within its jurisdiction two hundred 



29 

and ninety six christians of different ages. During the 
three days of Fr. Serra's stay at Vellicata, God consoled 
him by allowing a few natives to approach him — but let 
us quote the words of Fr. Junipero, which will show at 
once the glowing zeal of his heart, — "The day after 
Easter I experienced a great consolation. Mass having 
been said, I retired to my hut and in a little while I was 
informed that some Indians were approaching, I kissed 
the floor in thanksgiving to Almighty God, since I 
was about to realize the hopes I had for many years, (to 
see and speak with the poor Indian) I came out and met 
twelve of them, all adults except two, who were boys; I 
saw that what I had read, but which I could scarcely believe 
was true, that they were as perfectly naked as Adam was 
in Paradise, before the fall. We talked with them for a 
long time, and though they saw us dressed they seemed 
not to blush or feel ashamed of their condition. I laid 
my hands on the head of every one, and I gave them as 
many dried figs as they could hold and they began at 
once to eat the fruit, and with manifestations of the 
greatest esteem they gave us a net and four fish, 
which the cook said were not fit to use. Fr. Campa gave 
them raisins, and the Governor some leaves of tobacco; 
The soldiers gave them something to eat, and by means 
of an interpreter, I informed them that a missionary was 
going to remain amongst them, and then Fr. Meiguel 
bade them visit him, and tell others not to be afraid and 
not to steal the cattle, but in their want, to come and ask 
the Father, who would give them all they needed. They 
seemed very much pleased, and bowing their heads they 
retired. The Governor gave Fr. Campa one-fifth of the 
cattle and some provisions. It was also deemed prudent 
to leave cattle in the locality for the benefit of the mis- 
sions which were to be founded, as the result of the 
expedition could not be foretold. After travelling three 
leagues Fr. Junipero's foot became so swollen as to indi- 
cate mortification; he could not rest a moment, the pain 



30 

was so intense. The Governor noticing the extent of his 
snffering, suggested that he should go back ; but Junipero 
would not consent, but expressed the hope, that as 
Almighty God had brought him so far. He would allow 
him to reach San Diego. "If not, said he, let His divine 
will be done." Seeing his determination the Governor 
ordered a litter to be made, but the humble Junipero 
would not consent to be carried by human beings, so he 
prayed to God fervently for help, and calling a mule 
driver (by name Juan Antonio Coronel) said : 

"My son can you find some remedy for my sore 
foot?" 

"What remedy can I have ? replied Coronel. I am 
not a surgeon, only a mule driver, and can only cure 
the wounds of my beasts." 

" Well son, said the Father, imagine that I am one of 
those animals, and that this is one of their wounds, 
(pointing to his swollen limb), apply the same remedy." 

The mule driver smiling said : " I will do so Father to 
please you," and taking some suet, mixed it with herbs, 
making a kind of poultice or plaster, which was applied 
according to instructions. 

God rewarded the humility of His servant. The 
patient rested peacably that night, and next morning to 
the astonishment of those present, he got up early to 
recite matins and offer up the holy sacrifice of the mass. 
From here the travelers followed the track taken by the 
explorers who accompanied Father Wenceslaus Link 
three years previous, when that divine went in quest of 
the Colorado river. They continued on this course in a 
northerly direction for seventy-five miles, to a place 
called " Cieneguilla," where they turned in a northeasterly 
direction to avoid the high mountains which had obliged 
the Jesuit explorers to return without reaching the Rio 
Colorado. Advancing steadily towards the Pacific they 
had the pleasure of reaching San Diego on the 1st of 



31 

Jul}', after a trip of forty-six days from their last starting 
point, San Fernando. The soldiers had scarcely dis- 
cerned at a distance the harbor of San Diego, when they 
began discharging musketry; those of their associates 
who had already arrived by sea and land returning the 
salute. Father Junipero knowing that it had been de- 
termined by a council of officers to send back the San 
Antonio to San Bias, hastened to write to his friend Fr. 
Palou, from which very interesting letter we quote the 
following, not being able to give the contents in full: — 
"I arrived," says he, '^on the first of the month in this 
beautiful and famous port of San Diego. Fathers Crespi, 
Yizcaino, Parron, Gomez, and your humble servant are 
in good health, thanks be to God. The two ships are 
here, the San Carlos without a crew, all having died of 
scurvy except the cook and one sailor. The San Antonio, 
though she sailed a month and a half after the San Carlos, 
arrived here twenty days ahead of her. The first cause 
of delay of the San Carlos was the leaky condition of 
her water casks, which obliged her to touch land in 
order to obtain a fresh supply. The water so obtained 
being bad, and not fit for use, caused the sickness of the 
crew. The second reason for the delay was the mistaken 
idea, that this port was thirty-three or thirty-four degrees 
north latitude, when in reality it is only thirty-two 
degrees and thirty -four minutes; for this reason they 
went farther north than was necessary, thus prolonging 
the voyage. The persons aboard growing daily worse 
from the use of bad water, must have all perished had 
they not opportunely discovered this port. So feeble 
were they that they could not lower the boats, and they 
were in fact nearly helpless. Father Parron labored 
much in tending the sick, and although thin and fatigued, 
he is still enjoying good health. I am writing also to the 
Yisitor, College and Commissary Generals, and were it 
not that Captain Perez is delayed, I could not convenient- 
ly complete my correspondence. Neither ourselves nor 



32 

the Indian neophytes suffered from hunger or exposure. 
We all arrived safe and well, thanks be to God. I have 
written my diary, which I shall send to you at the first 
opportunity. The country along the route through which 
we have passed, looks very favorable for establishing 
missions. The soil is rich and water is abundant around 
here, and even far back the country is free from brush- 
wood and rocks. However, there are many very high 
hills, composed of earth. The road for the most part 
was bad, with now and then an exception to the general 
rule. For half the distance the valleys and creeks were 
delightful; they resembled large groves with public walks 
intervening. In many places vines loaded with grapes,-fand 
here and there different varieties of castillian roses can 
be seen. In a word the soil is fertile, prolific and quite 
different from that of old California. The longest time 
we journied in a day was six hours, but the average was 
four and a half hours. I believe by avoiding obstacles 
we will be able to go from here to Yellicata in twelve days. 
The number of natives is very great all along the coast of 
the southern sea. They subsist chiefiy on various kinds 
of nutricious seeds and by fishing. They make canoes 
from tule, in which they go out a great way to sea; they 
are very amiable; all the men and boys go perfectly 
naked, the female portion are decently clad, even the 
small babes. They came to meet us as if they had known 
us all their life time; we offered them food which they 
refused; all they seemed to care for was clothes, and only 
for something of this sort would they exchange their fish 
or whatever else they had. We saw all along the road 
hares, rabbits, a few deer and many antelopes. The mis- 
sion has not yet been established, but I will do so 
immediately after the explorers leave. My friend, I can- 
not write any more as the captain says he will not wait 
any longer. All the priests send their best respects to you, 
wishing you success in your labors. I intended to write 
to other friends, but it is impossible to do so at present. 



33 

From this port, the newly projected Mission of Ban 
Diego in Northern California. 
July 3d, 1769. 

Your affectionate brother and servant, 

FR. JUNIPEEO SEER A. 

The San Antonio, bearer of this letter, left the harbor 
on the 9th of July, six days after the date of the 
mission. The voyage lasted many days, and the vessel 
finally arrived at San Bias, having lost nine of her crew, 
all of whom were washed overboard. Arrangements 
were so made that the sick soldiers and sailors would 
stay at the hospital in San Diego, under the care of Sur- 
geon Prat, and that the San Carlos would remain there 
anchored until the San Jose reached her destination, 
when the former, being well equipped, would proceed to 
Monterey. 

It was also settled that the land expedition would leave 
on the 14th of July, Feast of the Seraphic Doctor St. 
Bonaventura. The van was composed of Governor Por- 
tala with his servant, two priests. Fathers' Crespi and 
Gomez, two Indian Neophites from old California as 
attendants. Captain Eivera with twenty-five soldiers, 
Lieutenant Faxes of the Catalonia volunteers, with seven 
men, Constanzo, engineer, seven mule drivers, fifteen In- 
dians from old Caifornia as an advance guard, together 
with others who attended to the mules which carried the 
provisions. There were in all sixty-six persons. All 
things being arranged mass was celebrated in honor of St. 
Joseph and St. Bonaventura, and the party moved along 
in a north-easterly direction towards the Pacific coast. 
They left at four o'clock in the afternoon and traveled 
only seven miles that day. From the diary of Fr. Crespi 
we will be able to give a more minute account of this 
first expedition by land, though in doing so we will 
be compelled to leave for a moment our hero, Junipero 
Serra. 2 



CHAPTER YII. 

DISCOVERY OF THE HARBOR AND BAY OP SAN FRANCISCO— MINUTE 
DETAILS OF THE EXPEDITION AND INCIDENTS OF THE VOYAGE. 



No matter in what part of California the reader resides 
he will be much interested in perusing this chapter; his 
interest will, however, be greatly increased if he happens 
to live in some of the places discovered and named by 
these early explorers. From San Diego to their first 
halting place, those who composed the land expedition, 
met numbers of hares and rabbits. They stopped at a 
place where there were several springs, and though the 
night was well advanced, two Indians appeared on the 
scene and one of them made a long speech, of which they 
did not understand one word, and on concluding he pre- 
sented some sardines to the Governor. In return his 
Excellency gave him beads and cloth. On the 18th of the 
same month, (July,) the travelers reached a lovely valley, 
where the Indians, naked and painted in different colors, 
came to welcome them. It seems they only painted them- 
selves in times of war and when paying a ceremonious 
visit. Their chief having made a speech, they all let their 
arms drop to the ground. They presented some nets of 
their own make. The women were modestly covered with 
deer skins. To this place they gave the name of San 
Juan Capistrano, which name it still retains. On the 24th 
they perceived the islands of St. Clement and St. Cata- 



35 

lina, and they reported San Pedro hay as being five 
leagues distant. On the 28th, they encamped near a river 
which they called *'Temblores," because all that day and 
night there were terrific shocks of earthquake. On this 
spot was afterwards founded the Mission of San Gabriel, 
twelve miles from Los Angeles. On the 2nd of August 
they stopped at the spot where the flourishing city of Los 
Angeles now stands, near a river which they called "Por- 
tiuncula." As on that day the Franciscans celebrate the 
Feast of "our Lady of the Angels," hence, probably the 
name "Los Angeles." On Sunday the 6th, approaching 
the head of Santa Barbara channel, they were visited by 
Indians who by marks on the sand resembling vessels, 
conveyed the idea that such things had been seen by 
them. They also made signs to the effect that white men 
resembling their present visitors and wearing long beards 
and armor, had at other times come ashore. We read in 
the account of the expedition of Yizcaino, that towards 
the close of 1603, he passed with his vessels through the 
channel of Santa Barbara, which he so named. It was 
observed that the Indians along that coast had larger tents 
than common among the natives, and that each family 
lived in a separate hut. From Santa Barbara the ex- 
plorers passed through Santa Clara canon, where there 
are now so many splendid farm-homes. The dwellings of 
the then inhabitants were made of a few poles stuck in 
the ground, forming a semi-circle, brought together in a 
conical shape, with bundles of sage brush thrown over, 
leaving an opening at the top which served to permit the 
escape of smoke and to let in the air and light. Near St. 
Bonaventura they found the Indians more industrious and 
athletic, and the women better clad. They cleverly 
made well shaped canoes of pine, and all their work was 
well finished. Some of their fishing boats would hold ten 
men; they would go out to sea some distance, and showed 
great dexterity in managing very long oars. To work out 
the timber and stone, they used only tools made of flint, 



36 

being ignorant of the use of iron and steel. They readily 
exchanged highly polished wooden plates for a few 
trinkets. Along the channel the explorers were the recip- 
ients of large quantities of excellent fish, which proved 
one of their chief articles of food during that portion of 
their journey. The Indians were kind, even staying near 
the camp all night, playing their flutes but so discordantly 
that the soldiers had but little rest. After passing "La 
Gaviota," (sea gull,) on the 20th of August, they reached 
Point Conception. They passed through the canon of 
Los Osos, where San Luis Obispo is now situated, and 
near Moro Kock. Finding their progress impeded by the 
Santa Lucia mountains, they were obliged to open a path 
through the rugged defiles of that range. On the summit 
of the Sierra even the undaunted spirit of Fr. Crespi 
began to falter, when he saw that a passage must be forced 
through a thick forest, and that this must be done with 
infirm soldiers scarcely able to labor. After descending 
the Sierra a considerable distance, they encamped near 
a river, which they mistook for the " Rio Carmelo," but 
which was the "Nacimiento/' the course of which they 
followed for several days, until they finally, again arrived 
at the long sought for sea. This stream now bears the 
name of Salinas. 

Fr. Crispi and the commander ascended a sand hill and 
contemplated the lovely bay of Monterey, recognized 
Point Pinos and New Year's point, as described by the 
navigator Cabrera. The soldiers explored Point Pinos on 
both sides, but did not recognize the port of Monterey, 
the term of their expedition. Divine providence, doubt- 
less blinded them, that they might proceed farther north 
and make a more interesting discovery. Here the Gov- 
ernor proposed to go back, but Fr. Crespi and the officers 
would not consent to it, all saying unanimously, ''Let us 
continue our journey, until we find the harbor of Mon- 
terey. If it is God's will, we will die fulfilling our duty 
to Him and our country." After crossing the Salinas 



37 

river, they entered the Pajaro valley and encamped near 
the bank of a stream they called Pajaro, (bird,) because 
the soldiers saw there a large bird stuffed with hay. 

Here they found an encampment of Indians numbering 
about 500, who having had no intimation of the arrival 
of strangers in their land became alarmed; some flew to 
arms, others ran about shouting, whilst the women cried 
most piteously. 

Sergeant Ortega alighting from his horse approached 
them, assuring them by signs that no injury was intended. 
He took up several arrows and little flags which the 
Indians had placed on the ground, at which the Indians 
gave manifestations of pleasure, clapping their hands as 
a sign of approbation. On asking for food, the women 
without delay proceeded to their huts, and soon placed 
before their guests a plentiful supply of a most palatable 
paste, which they made from pounded seed. 

AVhen the Fathers and company arrived at this spot 
the next day they found nothing but the smoking ruins 
of the encampment; the Indians having set fire to and 
deserted the place during the night. 

Where the thriving and beautiful town of Watsonville 
now stands they saw for the first time redwood trees, 
which owing to their color they named " Palo Colorado," 
(redwood. ) In this valley they encountered numerous 
herds of deer, elk, and of another animal which re- 
sembled the mule. 

On the banks of a small but picturesque lake, probably 
that where now stands the Catholic Boys' Orphan Asylum, 
they rested for three days. Meanwhile, the soldiers pro- 
ceeded northward thirty miles, till they reached the base 
of a high mountain; but the harbor of Monterey still 
eluded their search. 

Continuing their journey, they, on October 15th crossed 
over some hills covered with a thick growth of hazel brush 
and redwood trees. On the 17th they forded a river and 



38 

encamped on tlie present site of Santa Cruz; and on the 
31st of the same month, they found themselves gazing 
from one of the sand hills at Point Keys, under which 
lies the old port of San Francisco. 

*' Some may doubt it," said Fr. Crespi, " that we have 
passed the harbor of Monterey, and are in sight of that 
of San Francisco." 

Here their provisions failed, and the travelers were 
reduced to five tortillas a day. The soldiers went out to 
hunt, and reported having seen a great inland sea, as far 
as the eye could reach, (San Francisco bay ) The expe- 
dition remained near the bay for sixteen days, and being 
favored with a cloudless sky, those who composed, were 
able to form a correct idea of the climate. 

On November 19th they passed New Year's Point on 
their return trip, and on the 21st they encamped at 
Laguna Creek, near Santa Cruz. Here they killed a great 
number of wild geese. Towards the end of November 
they tarried around Monterey, thinking it probable that 
the harbor was filled with sand; they erected a cross at 
Carmel bay, at the foot of which they left a written 
memorandum, intended for the San Jose, in the event of 
its arrival at that point. Finally on January 24th, after 
many hardships, and half dead with hunger, they reached 
San Diego, and found the soldiers there also short of 
provisions. 



CHAPTEK VIII. 

FATHER JUNIPERO SERRA ESTABLISHES THE FIRST MISSION IN 
UPPER CALIFORNIA— WHAT HAPPENED THEN. 



Two days after the expedition left in search of the 
harbor of Monterey, Fr. Junipero with great zeal began 
to lay the foundation of the first mission in Upper Cali- 
fornia. 

As early as the year 1603, the harbor of San Diego was 
known by the Spaniards, having been explored at that 
time by Sebastian Vizcaino. 

The 16th of July was most appropriately selected as 
the day upon which to plant the cross in Upper California, 
as on that day the church in Spain commemorates 
the triumph of the cross over the crescent, in the year 
1212; besides, that day the catholic church celebrates the 
feast of our Lady Mount Carmel, whose powerful protec- 
tion was greatly needed to succeed in planting the faith 
among the Indians. Father Junipero sang mass, erected 
a cross, blessed it and performed the usual ceremonies 
for the establishment of a new mission. Fr. Parron also 
remained to minister to the spiritual wants of the people. 
Sickness having prostrated many of them, work proceeded 
very slowly, and only a few huts were erected, one of 
which Avas used as a chapel. 

The Indians then began to approach, but as no one 
could understand them, very little if any progress could 



40 

be made, except to gain their good will by offering them 
trinkets and clothes, which they appeared to keenly 
ajopreciate. It was observed that they invariably refused 
to eat anything offered, and if a lump of sugar was put 
in the mouth of a child, he would spit it out as if it were 
poison. Had they been as greedy for food as they were 
for some other articles, the Fathers and soldiers would 
soon have been in a state of starvation, as their supply 
of provisions was by no means abundant. The natives 
were eager to obtain clothing, so much so, that they stole 
anything that came within their reach, even the sheets 
from the beds of the sick soldiers. One night some of 
these thieves were caught on board the vessel cutting 
the sails and ropes; and in consequence, it became neces- 
sary to put on additional guards. In fact, the savages 
became so insolent and aggressive that the soldiers were 
sometimes obliged to fire on them to keep them at proper 
distance. 

On the 15th of August, the day on which the church 
celebrates the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed 
Virgin Mary, and when Fr. Junipero had just finished 
celebrating mass, at which holy communion had been 
received by some, when the Indians armed with arrows, 
wooden sabres and clubs, fell upon the missionaries; the 
corporal with the four soldiers who had remained, gave 
the alarm and began to fire. Fr. Vizcaino having raised 
the mat of his hut to see if any one had been killed, was 
pierced by an arrow in the hand; at the same instant his 
servant, named Joseph Mary, rushed in, and falling at 
his feet cried: "Father absolve me, I have been mortally 
wounded." The Father did so, and in a few moments 
the soul of Joseph Mary was ranked among the army of 
martyrs. This death was concealed from the Indians, 
who in their turn concealed their dead, if they had any. 
A few days after the wounded were brought to the mis- 
sion to be cared for by the surgeons. 



41 

After this encounter the Indians ceased to molest the 
Spaniards, and they used to visit the mission without 
arms. A youth of about fifteen, daily called on the 
Fathers, and Fr. Junipero bestowed many favors upon 
him. He also endeavored to teach him a few words in 
Spanish. After a while Fr. Junipero asked his pupil to 
entreat some of the Indian parents to have their children 
baptized ; one day a little child was produced, and from 
the signs made, the Fathers understood that it was de- 
sired that the infant should be baptized. So requesting 
the corporal to act as god-father, Serra proaeeded with 
the usual ceremonies, but when he raised his hand to 
pour the regenerating water, the Indian rudely snatched 
the child and left the Father with the shell in his hand. 
The soldiers wished to pursue the offender and avenge 
the gross insult, but Fr. Junipero prevented it, and with 
tears in his eyes, attributed the frustration of this in- 
tended baptism to his own sins. But God, who ever 
consoles the humble, blessed his labors, and most abund- 
ant was the harvest which he reaped. He permitted him 
to see 1046 Indians, including grown persons and 
children, baptized in San Diego. 

One of the savages who at this time attempted to 
murder Fr. Junipero, six years after was one of the, 
murderers of Fr. Luis Jayme, for which crime he was 
made prisoner. Fr. Junipero, in 1776, returning to San 
Diego visited him, earnestly besought him to become a 
christian, promising that he would obtain his pardon 
from the king. But he* was deaf to all entreaties, and the 
next morning, the 15th of August, seven years after he had 
attempted the life of Fr. Junipero, the unfortunate man 
was found dead in his cell, having hanged himself. 

While Fr. Junipero was laboring under such great dis- 
advantages in San Diego, and on January 24th, 1770, the 
expedition which had gone north, returned with the news 
of their fruitless attempt to discover the harbor of Mon- 
terey, but reported that they had seen that of San Francisco. 



42 

The heart of Junipero throbbed with delight on hearing 
this, for whilst treating with, the Yisitor-General Galvez, 
concerning the first three missions to be established in 
Upper California, and learning the names to be assigned 
to each, Fr. Junipero remarked: "And for our Founder 
St. Francis there is no mission;" to which Galvez replied: 
''If St. Francis desires a mission, let him show us his 
harbor and he shall have one. Was it not providential, 
that the explorers being at Monterey failed to recognize 
the harbor, and going forty leagues northward' en- 
countered at once the bay of St. Francis ? " 

In view of these facts, what can we conclude, says 
Palou, other than that St. Francis wished a mission at 
his harbor. The Visitor-General was of the same opinion ; 
for when the news of the discovery of San Francisco 
bay reached the city of Mexico, he in concert with the 
Viceroy labored to establish at once a mission at St. 
Francis bay. Orders were given to the captain of the 
packet " San Antonio," that should they reach the harbor 
of San Francisco before touching at Monterey, and should 
two of the ten missionaries who were going to California 
have the courage to remain at the newly found port, they 
should be supplied with all requisite equipments, includ- 
ing some sailors. The good wishes of Galvez were not 
however realized till six years after. 

Governor Portala seeing that his supply of provisions 
had run so short, and fearing that with the greatest 
economy he could not make them last until March, de- 
termined if he did not receive supplies from San Bias 
before March 19th, to abandon the Mission of San Diego. 
This news, which soon circulated through the camp, 
deeply wounded the heart of the zealous Junipero, and 
day and night he solicited from heaven the much needed 
aid. He formed the heroic resolution, that should all 
abandon the mission he would remain alone, and wrote to 
Fr. Palou intimating his high souled resolution. 



43 

I will quote a few paragraphs of his letter, bearing 
date February 10th of that year, 1770, Referring to the 
expedition in search of Monterey harbor he says: "Those 
who went retTifned after much suffering, having been 
obliged to subsist on mule flesh, and without having 
found Monterey, judging it to have been filled up with 
sand; and I am almost inclined to believe the same." 
One of our great drawbacks, says he, is the want of news 
and proper intercourse with you; being blessed with 
good health a tortilla with some herbs from the field, are 
sufficient for our daily sustenance. On three occasions I 
have been in danger of losing my life; on the feast of 
St. Clare and St. Hypolite, August 12th and 13th, and on 
the feast of the Assumption of our Lady. Fearing that 
I would be killed, I wrote you a letter of farewell, but as 
the storm abated I did not send it. If they sent cattle 
from Vellicata, forward a little incense, an ordo, and holy 
oils, in case you have received them from Guadalajara, 

My diary, and that of Fr. Crespi, will be copied and 
sent to you as soon as possible. 

On receipt of this letter from his superior, Fr. Palou 
immediately called on the Lieutenant Governor, and 
earnestly besought him to order without delay a captain 
and nineteen soldiers, together with sufficient cattle for 
San Diego. 

The abandonment of that mission was the daily subject 
of conversation, and so anxious were some that the 19th 
of March seemed too remote a period. The rumors cir- 
culated on this subject were so many pointed arrows in 
the heart of Fr. Junipero; and particularly so when he 
remembered that already 166 years had elapsed since the 
Spaniards had visited that harbor, and that in case it 
were now abandoned, centuries might pass 'ere they 
would return. 

As the vessels did not arrive in the early part of March, 
Fr. Junipero went to the captain of the San Carlos and 



44 

requested, that should the harbor be abandoned by the 
expedition, he would allow Fr. Crespi and himself to re- 
main on board this vessel to await the arrival of provis- 
ions, so that they might be afforded an opportunity to go 
by sea to Monterey, as he was inclined to believe they 
had been there, but failed to recognize the place; the 
captain concurring in his views, consented. 

How patiently, yet with what misgivings, he awaited 
the arrival of the feast of the glorious Patriarch St. 
Joseph. On that day he sang mass with great fervor and 
preached; in the evening all was bustle and commotion 
in the camp, preparing for the departure on the morrow; 
towards evening the fog which had enshrouded the bay 
all day vanished ; when lo ! far away a ship was descried 
approaching the harbor, but was soon again lost to view; 
however, this apparition served to encourage all, hope 
reanimated again every heart; four days later the ''San 
Antonio " entered the harbor bearing joy and gladness to 
all. 

To the powerful intercession of the great St. Joseph, 
Fr. Junipero attributed the momentary view of the ship 
on the 19th of March, and he never ceased thanking God 
for the favor; and for a long time, on the 19th of each 
month, he had a mass sung in honor of the Holy Patri- 
arch. To the sweet 23rovidence God, who never abandons 
His own, must be ascribed the timely arrival of the " San 
Antonio " at that trying hour. 

When the Viceroy and Visitor-General learned that 
the expedition by land had left in search of Monterey and 
the existing need of men aad provisions, owing to the 
non-arrival of the third ship, they determined at once to 
send the packet-boat "San Antonio" directly to Mon- 
terey. The ship set sail under the most favorable 
auspices; but when within 240 miles of Monterey, their 
supply of water falling short, they were obliged to take 
the channel of Santa Barbara, where the Idians kindly 



45 

lent their aid in filling their barrels. By means of signs 
they made known to them that the land expedition had 
gone back; they could even name some of the soldiers. 
Captain Perez on hearing this was somewhat perplexed, 
and for a time at a loss as to what course to pursue; finally 
he deemed it more advisable to adhere to the course 
assigned by his superiors, rather than that suggested by 
the Indians; accordingly, he proceeded to Monterey. 
The loss of an anchor necessitated his return to San 
Diego, in order to procure one from the " San Carlos." 
To the unbeliever this fact may seem to be merely acci- 
dental, but the good missionaries considered it an act of 
divine providence to prevent the abandonment of the 
San Diego mission, and this was accomplished by the 
momentary glimpse of the vessel the very eve of the 
mission's abandonment. The immediate effect of which 
was to enkindle hope in the most despondent hearts. As 
there was now a good stock of provisions, it was determ- 
ined to proceed at once in search of Monterey; accordingly 
two expeditions were organized, one to go by land and 
the other by water. About the middle of April both set 
out; Fr. Junipero went by water, on board the "San 
Antonio, " Fr. Crespi and the Governor going over land. 
Whilst on board the vessel Fr. Junipero wrote again to 
his companion Fr. Palou, from which I quote the most 
interesting items : 

''Dear Friend: Quite late last night the captain sent 
word to embark, a summons which w^as speedily responded 
to, as I had previously sent on board all necessaries ; at 
an early hour this morning I said mass, since which time 
the men have been steadily at work, and we now find our- 
selves at the entrance of the harbor. Fathers Parron and 
Gomez remain at San Diego; Fr. Juan Crespi and I 
intend going in the same ship in which the troops ar- 
rived. One of us is destined for Monterey, the other for 
San Buenaventura, which is distant about eighty leagues. 



46 

I received no letter by the ship, the reason being that the 
direction was to Monterey. The death of Clement XIII., 
and of the election of Ganganeti, one of our religious, are 
rumors which have reached us. May God preserve the 
Pontiff. This news has gladdened me in my solitude. A 
year has elapsed since I received a letter from the college, 
and nearly the same length of time has passed since your 
last reached me. At the first opportunity send us some 
wax and incense, as we need both for the celebration of 
the Divine Mysteries. Owing to contrary winds, we did 
not depart yesterday. It is now the second day after 
Easter, and about seven o'clock in the morning; we are 
sailing out of the harbor, being towed by a boat from the 
*'San Carlos," which on its return will carry this letter 
ashore to our Fathers, who will transmit it by a courrier, 
who will be sent as soon as the expedition leaves. 

At sea, before the harbor of San Diego, April 16th, 
1770. 

FE. JUNIPEKO SEEKA. 

Owing to contrary winds, the voyagers were driven as 
far south as the 30th degree of latitude, hence they were 
forty-six days in reaching Monterey. The land expedition 
made the journey in thirty-six days, having rested on the 
road only two days. 



CHAPTEE IX. 



ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MISSION OF SAN CARLOS AT MONTEREY. 



It would be impossible to describe the establishment 
of the Mission of San Carlos in more graphic colors than 
Fr. Junipero used, when relating the same to his friend 
Fr. Palou. We will, therefore, quote the letter almost in 
full, knowing that our readers will enjoy it. It is as fol- 
lows: *'My Dear Friend: On the 31st of May, by favor 
of God, after a tedious and perilous voyage of a month 
and a half, the packet-boat * San Antonio,' commanded 
by Captain Don Juan Perez, anchored in this horrid bay 
of Monterey, the same unchanged as it was left by the 
expedition of Don Sebastian Vizcaino, in the year 1603. 
It was a great consolation for me to be here, and the 
pleasure I felt increased with the news received that same 
night, which was that the land expedition had arrived 
eight days previously, and with it Fr. Juan Crespi, all 
in good health. Our joy increased still more when, on 
the great feast of Pentecost, June 3d, close by the same 
shore, and under the same oak tree where the Fathers of 
Vizcaino's expedition had celebrated, we built an altar, 
and the bell having been rung, and the hymn Veni Cre- 
ator intoned, we erected and consecrated a large cross, 
and unfurled the royal standard, after which I sang the 
first mass which is known to have been sung at this point 
since 1603. I preached during the mass, and at its con- 



48 

elusion we sang the Salve Regina before a lovely image 
of our Blessed Lady, which had been placed above the 
altar; the statue was presented by his Excellency. Our 
celebration terminated with the singing of the Te Deum; 
after which the officers took possession of the land in the 
name of the King of Spain. During the celebration a 
salute of many cannons was fired from the ship. To God 
alone be honor and glory. It is not for me to judge why 
this harbor was not found by the first expedition. It was 
a year last May since I received a letter from the land of 
Christians. Let me know the name of the reigning Pope, 
that I may mention it at the canon of the mass; also if 
the canonization of Blessed Josej)h Cupertino and Serafino 
Asculi has taken place; if there are any dead for whom 
we may pray. In a word, let us know whatever could be 
of interest to poor hermits — sequestered, cut of from the 
society of men. I earnestly solicit you to send us two 
more missionaries, who, with the four here, will securely 
establish the mission of San Buenaventura in the channel 
of Santa Barbara, the land being better adapted to the 
purpose than San Diego, Monterey, or any other port yet 
discovered. I would not wish that for want of mission- 
aries this mission should be retarded. In truth, as long 
as Fr. Juan and I can stand, we will not be separated; 
for me it will be the greatest of trials to remain eighty 
leagues distant from another priest. 

Our supply of candles has run out here, as well as in 
San Diego; nevertheless, to-morrow we are going to cele- 
brate the feast and procession of Corpus Christi, in order 
to chase away as many little devils as there may be found 
in this land. Write to the Visitor-General concerning 
the discovery of this harbor. 

Mission of San Carlos of Monterey, June 18th, feast 
of St. Anthony of Padua, 1770. 

Your friend and companion, 

FK. JUNIPEEO SERRA." 



49 

On the very day that the foundation of the Royal Pre- 
sidio of San Carlos was laid, and possession taken of the 
harbor, the Mission of San Carlos was also founded. A 
chapel was built of palisades to serve as church; also 
apartments for the missionaries in which to transact busi- 
ness; all were protected by paling. 

For several days no Indians were to be seen, having no 
doubt been frightened by the noise of the cannon and 
guns; but when they approached. Father Junipero at once 
began to humor them, and by divers ways sought to gain 
their good .will. 

The June letter spoken of was received by Fr. Palou 
on the 2d of August, in All Saints Mission, five hundred 
and sixty leagues distant from Monterey; the mail-carrier 
having made the journey in that short time. By the same 
carrier, a bark bound for San Bias, letters were dis- 
patched to the Viceroy and Visitor-General; however, 
these dignitaries received the news sooner by the com- 
mandant of the expedition, who, leaving- the harbor of 
Monterey on the 9th of July, reached San Bias on the 
12th of August. 

Lieutenant Fages remained to guard the Presidio of 
Monterey, and for w^ant of troops the establishment 
of the Mission of San Buenaventura was delayed. Fr. 
Junipero, seeing that the mission could not be actually 
built at present, began with Fr. Crespi to instruct the 
Indians, but work progressed slowly, owing to their igno- 
rance of the Indian language. An Indian neophyte from 
old California helped them, and having learned a few 
words of their language, the aborigines were made to 
understand that the Spaniards had come to teach the way 
to heaven. 

On tlie 26th of December of that year, Fr. Junipero for 
the first time administered the holy sacrament of Baptism, 
and the ceremony was often repeated. Father Palou as- 
sures us that when he visited Monterey, three years after, 



50 

he found there 165 Christians, and when Fr. Junipero 
died, one thousand and fourteen had been regenerated by 
the saving waters, and of these some preceded the pious 
Junipero and awaited him in the midst of his Saviour's 
glory. We cannot deny, says Father Palou, that God, by 
His wonderful manifestations, helped the missionaries in 
the conversion of these poor Indians. 

Father Crespi, in his diary of the second land expedi- 
tion to Monterey, relates as follows, under date of May 
2d: "After a journey of three leagues, we arrived at one 
of the salty lagunas of Punta Pinos, where a* cross had 
been erected. Before alighting from our horses, the 
Governor, a soldier and myself approached the cross, 
seeking to discover some signs of the expedition which 
had set out by water, but we found none. The cross was 
surrounded by arrows, and little rods tipped with feathers, 
which had been set in the ground by the Indians; sus- 
pended from a stick, at one side of the cross, was a string 
of half-spoiled sardines, a pile of muscles, and a piece of 
meat. This astonished us not a little; but we failed to 
comprehend the significance of it; however, as soon as 
the neophytes were capable of expressing themse]\'es in 
Spanish, they assured us that the first time they saw the 
Spaniards, their attention was attracted by a beautiful 
shining cross, which each one wore on his breast; that 
when they departed, they left on the shore this large 
cross, which seemed at night to almost touch the sky, and 
was surrounded with rays of heavenly light; but in day- 
time, seeing it in its usual proportions, and, to propitiate 
it, they had ofiered it flesh-meat and fish; observing that 
it partook not of their feast, they presented arrows and 
feathers, as a token that they were at peace with the holy 
cross, and with those who had planted it. 

This narrative was frequently related by the Indians, 
and in 1774, when Fr. Junipero returned from Mexico, 
they repeated it to him without any variation. 



51 

The Ven. President wrote an account of this circum- 
stance to the Viceroy, to excite him to a greater zeal for 
the conversion of the heathen. 

The news of the discovery of the harbor of Monterey 
was received in the city of Mexico with loud acclamations 
of joy. The Yiceroy, the Marquis de la Croix, and the 
Visitor-General requested the Dean of the Cathedral to 
have the bells ring forth a merry peal as on festival days; 
soon the general tolling from the steeples proclaimed the 
glad tidings. The principal persons, both secular and 
ecclesiastical, repaired to the palace to congratulate his 
Excellency on the happy issue. A solemn mass of thanks- 
giving was celebrated at the cathedral, next day, at which 
the city officials and dignitaries assisted. An account of 
this discovery was printed and circulated among the peo- 
ple ; copies were also forwarded to Spain, stating that the 
crown had for two centuries sent vessels to explore the 
coast of California, or the South Sea (the Pacific), and 
relating minutely the history of the expeditions, by land 
and by sea, terminating in the discovery of Monterey, and 
the establishment of the Presidio and Mission of San 
Carlos, June 3d, 1770. A just tribute of praise was given 
to the zeal and untiring energy of Fr. Junipero Serra. 

Meanwhile, Fr. Junipero visited the whole country, 
and, with his keen comprehension, saw at once that along 
the shore was not the proper place to found a mission, the 
land not being arable ; about a league distant, having 
found a delightful spot in the open plains of Carmelo, he 
wrote to the Viceroy and Visitor for permission to remove 
the mission to that fertile spot. 

He represented to them the fruitfulness of the land, 
and the great number of Indians whom they had met in 
going from Vellicata to San Francisco. Moreover, he 
placed before his lordship the necessity of sending mis- 
sionaries furnished with everything required for the 
proper administration of the sacraments, and the celebra- 



52 

tion of the divine sacrifice, as well as agricultural imple- 
ments, so that the aborigines might be taught to labor 
and provide for themselves. 

He wrote to the»same effect to his Superior, and his 
letter could not have been written at a more opportune 
time, forty-nine Franciscans having arrived from Spain. 

As soon as De la Croix and Galvez received Fr, Juni- 
pero's letter, they requested the Father Guardian of the 
Franciscans to send thirty religious to California, in order 
that, besides San Diego, San Carlos, and San Buenaven- 
tura, other missions might be established under the pro- 
tection of San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Gabriel, San 
Antonio, and San Luis Obispo, for which places ten of 
these religious were destined. Ten more were to be sent 
to contemplated mission located between Vellicata and 
San Diego, which were to be named San Joaquin, Santa 
Ana, San Juan Capistrano, San Pascual, and San Felix. 
The remaining ten were to be distributed among the mis- 
sions where there was but one priest. The Guardian 
readily consented to the request of the Viceroy, who 
issued the most judicious orders for carrying it into effect. 
He procured a plentiful supply of sacred vestments, and 
other essentials for church and vestry. To defray the 
expense of the missions about to be established, he sent 
ten thousand dollars, and four hundred for the expense 
of each missionary. To the Commissary of Marines at 
San Bias he wrote that the packet-boat ' ' San Carlos " was 
to be in readiness to transport the missionaries to Loreto, 
and the ship ' ' San Antonio " would convey the other ten 
to Monterey. 

Reading these things, are we not forced to exclaim: 
Oh ! happy age of faith and heroism, in which the noblest 
aim of civil and military officials was to promote God's glory 
and conquer souls ! Oh ! happy time, when the treasures 
of the royal exchequer were so bountifully employed in 
propagating the faith in pagan nations! Have those days 



53 

gone forever? Ah! how cliiierently are the talents and 
riches of the nation now employed ! 

As the vessels were not ready for sea, the missionaries 
could not set out at once, although the Viceroy was ex- 
tremely anxious that they should do so. On January 2d, 
1771, the ten missionaries bound to Monterey sailed from 
San Bias, but encountering many storms, they did not 
reach San Diego till March 12th; here they left a part 
of their cargo, and again set sail for Monterey on April 
10th. 

The religious on board the ^'San Carlos" were not so 
fortunate. Early in February of 1771, they left for Lower 
California, but contrary winds carried them as far south 
as Acapulco; being in need of water, they put into the 
port of Manzanillo, when they were in imminent danger 
of shipwreck. The vessel became stranded, but by means 
of a boat the Fathers disembarked on the unhospitable 
shores of Colima. The vessel was so much injured that 
the captain declined to put to sea again; he wrote to this 
effect to De la Croix, who ordered the missionaries to go 
by land to Sinaloa, and from thence cross the gulf in a 
barge. They walked 900 miles, and one of them died of 
fatigue . 

They arrived at Loreto on the 24th of November of the 
same year. Fr. Falou was then acting as President of the 
mission of Lower California. As soon as the missionaries 
arrived, he wrote to the Governor to send troops to aid in 
establishing the new enterprise; the Governor was unable 
to comply with his request, consequently the nineteen 
Missionaries were distributed amongst the missions al- 
ready established. Meanwhile, the Marquis De la Croix 
retired from office, and he was succeeded by Bucareli. 
Galvez also retired, and some time elapsed ere the new 
Viceroy could well comprehend the current business. 

About this time the Dominican Fathers obtained from 
the King two missions in California. The Viceroy referred 



54 

tliem to tlie Guardian of San Fernando, Fr. Yerger, after- 
wards Bishop of Leon, wlio, considering Lower California 
only a narrow strip of land, and not easy to be subdivided, 
suggested to the Superior of the Dominicans that they 
take the missions previously in charge of the Jesuits, in- 
cluding that last established — San Fernando of Yellicata. 
The proposition having been accepted, was drawn up and 
signed by both parties, and witnessed by the Viceroy on 
the 30th of April, 1772. In May of the following year it 
was effected; the Dominican Fathers took charge of the 
Mission of Lower Califoi'nia, when Fr. Palou, with nine 
missionaries, proceeded to Upper California; the other 
Franciscans returned to their college in San Fernando. 




CHAPTER X. 

ARRIVAL OF THE MISSIONARIES-ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MISSION 
OF SAN ANTONIO— REMOVAL OF THE SAN CARLOS 
MISSION TO CARMEL. 



On the 21st of May the ten missionaries who had em- 
barked at San Diego, arrived safely at Monterey, to the 
great joy of Fr. Junipero, whose heart overflowed with 
gladness at seeing the increase of laborers for the Lord's 
vineyard. As they were approaching the feast of Corpus 
Christi, he prepared to celebrate it with far greater 
solemnity than on the previous year. At length the day 
opened, and from early dawn the Indians poured into the 
mission. Solemn high mass was sung, a sermon preached 
and the festival terminated with a procession of the most 
blessed sacrament, in which the twelve priests took part. 

The solemnization being over, in obedience to the order 
of the Yiceroy, Fr. Junipero made the following distri- 
bution of the missionaries: Frs. Dumetz and Jaime were 
to relieve the missionaries at San Diego, who owing to ill 
health had requested permission to return in the one 
to Mexico, the other to Lower California, hoping 
that in a warmer and more congenial climate they might 
recuperate. Frs. Paterna and Cruzado were destined for 
San Buenaventura, and Frs. Somera and Cambon to San 
Gabriel. These having been selected for the missions of 
southern California, re-embarked on the '* San Antonio" 
July 7th, 1771. Captain (formerly Lieutenant) Fages 



56 

accompanied them. Frs. Pieras and Sitjar were selected 
for San Antonio, and Caveller and Juncosa for San Luis 
Obispo. Fr. Crespi remained at Monterey with Fr. 
Junipero. 

Priests were needed for the Missions of San Francisco 
and Santa Clara, and it was expected that the needed 
assistance would come with the soldiers from Lower 
California who were expected. 

To find a more suitable site for the Mission of San 
Carlos was Junipero's next undertaking, consequently two 
days after the sailing of the " San Antonio " he pro- 
ceeded to the plain and canon of Carmelo; here he left 
forty Indians from Lower California, three sailors, and 
&Ye soldiers, and enjoined them to be expeditious in get- 
ting timber and erecting barracks, whilst he would go to 
establish the Mission of San Antonio. Taking with him 
the two missionaries, the necessary guard of soldiers and 
provisions; they traveled southward till they reached a 
beautiful dell, which on account of its being thickly 
covered with oak trees, they called " Los Kobles." Here 
they halted, carefully surveyed the place and found a 
plain skirting the bank of a river; this spot they selected 
as the most suitable location for the mission, which they 
named San Antonia. Though in midsummer, they 
noticed that the river had a plentiful flow of water, hence 
they concluded that in time the land around could be irri- 
gated. 

The place having been selected, Fr. Junij)ero gave 
orders to unload the mules, to hang the bell to the 
branch of a tree, which was no sooner done, than the 
servant of God seizing the rope began to ring it, shout- 
ing as if in- a rapture: " Oh Indians come, come, come to 
the Holy church ! come, come to receive the faith of Jesus 
Christ!" 

Fr. Miguel Peiras gazing at him in astonishment, said : 
** Why do you tire yourself? this is not where the church 



57 

is to be erected, nor are there any Indians here. It is 
useless to ring the bell." Ah! let me satisfy the longing 
of my own heart, replied Junipero, would to God the 
voice of this bell could resound through the whole world, 
as Mother Agreda desired. I wish it could be heard by 
at least all the Indians who inhabit these mountains. 

A large cross was made, blessed, venerated and erected; 
then a hut covered with boughs was made, in which they 
placed a table destined for the altar, and on the 14th of 
July Fr. Junipero celebrated the first mass in honor of 
St. Anthony of Padua, patron of the mission. 

When after the gospel he turned to preach, he noticed 
an Indian present, who had no doubt been attracted 
thither by the ringing of the bell. At the conclusion of 
his discourse he said: "I hope through the blessing of 
God and the intercession of the great St. Anthony, that 
this mission, at no distant day will be inhabited by many 
christians, since we see here, what we have not seen in 
the other missions established, namely : the first fruits of 
the wilderness. This poor Indian will not fail to commu- 
nicate to his companions, what he has seen and heard. 
And so it happened. 

No sooner was mass over, than the good Father 
hastened to the Indian, lavished much attention on him, 
many presented him with the usual gifts. That same day 
many other Indians approached the Fathers, and by 
their gestures made them understand that they had 
come to live in their midst. They seemed much pleased, 
for they came again, bringing pine and acorns, which 
was their ordinary food. The Fathers gave them in re- 
turn strings of glass beads of various colors. 

They immediately commenced building frame huts for 
the Fathers, soldiers and servants, and a larger building 
for a church, the whole was protected by a paling. A 
corporal and six soldiers were stationed here. From the 
outset the Indians manifested undivided confidence in the 



58 

missionaries. They brought seeds and requested them 
to nse all they wished and keep the rest for winter. Fr. 
Junipero remained here about fifteen days and then re- 
turned to Monterey. 

The missionaries began at once to learn the language 
of the Indians, and when they had made sufficient pro- 
gress, they devoted much time to catechising the natives. 
The seed fell upon good ground ; for two years afterwards 
there were one hundred and fifty eight christians in the 
mission of San Antonio. 

Amongst them there was an old woman, at least one 
hundred years of age, who came to ask baptism of the 
Fathers. Being interrogated as to why she desired bap- 
tism, she answered, that while young her parents had 
frequently told her of a man dressed in a habit similar to 
theirs, who had not come to them walking as other men, 
but flying, and had preached the same truths they were 
preaching. The Fathers did not credit the assertion of 
the old woman till they interrogated other christians, and 
all assured them it was true; they had heard so from 
their ancestors, and the coming of the missionaries was 
a general tradition among them. Father Palou says: 
*' When they related the above to me in my first visit to 
San Antonio, I recollected a letter which Ven. Mother 
Agreda wrote in 1631, in which she says that our Ven. 
Father St, Francis brought to these nations of the north 
two religious of his order to preach the gospel to them, 
and that after many conversions they had suffered mar- 
tyrdom. Having compared the time, I judged that it 
might be to one of them the new convert had reference." 

The Mission of San Antonio is situated in the centre of 
the Sierra of Santa Lucia, separated from the sea by 
rugged mountains. Pine trees abound; they bear a nut 
similar to the pine nut in Spain, of which the Indians are 
very fond. There are there dense forests of live oak; 
rabbits and squirrels abound says Fr. Palou, and are as 



59 

savory as hare. In those early days squirrel may have 
served for food, now we leave them to themselves or poison 
them for the protection of our crops. The climate of 
San Antonio is very warm in summer and cold in winter; 
frost is very common. A small creek flowing near the 
mission is frozen every morning until sun rise; thus the 
crops of corn and wheat are frequently exposed to des- 
truction. It is said that in the year 1780, they had such 
a frost at Easter, that the wheat crop which had com- 
menced to sprout and blossom, turned as dry as stubble 
in August. This misfortune led the Fathers to fear the 
loss of all their grain, and that they would have to recur 
again to the seed for subsistence. In this emergency 
they had recourse to the patron of the mission, and St. 
Anthony did not fail to come to their assistance. A 
novena in his honor was begun, the crops dried up and 
withered by the frost were irrigated, and after a few 
days they noticed that the grain commenced to sprout, 
and at the end of the novena the field was once more 
green. They continued to irrigate, and after fifty days 
the new crop was as far advanced as the dead one had 
been, and they reaped a far more abundant harvest than 
that of the preceding year. These facts, says Fr. Palou, 
and others which we omit, served to confirm these new 
christians in their faith, and the Mission of San Antonio 
soon became one of the most flourishing, numbering at 
the death f o Fr. Junipero Serra one thousand and eighty- 
eight baptized Indians. 

To-day the mission stands alone, the Indians of a 
century ago have disappeared. Fr. Ambris, who volun- 
teered to bury himself amongst these ruins, ministered 
for thirty years to the remains of a once populous tribe, 
and was finally called to his reward. His remains await 
the resurrection in the mission church he guarded so well. 
Once or twice a month a priest from San Miguel visits 
San Antonio. 



60 

Fr. Junipero's next desire was to found the Mission of 
San Luis Obispo, but owing to the non-arrival of troops 
expected from San Diego, he was forced to postpone it. 
He therefore concentrated all his attention upon the Mis- 
sion of San Carlos. He visited the place, and finding 
the lumber hewn insufficient, he ordered more trees to be 
felled, and set himself to work. While the other priests 
remained at Monterey to attend to those at the Presidio 
and Fr. Crespi was to catechize and instruct the neo- 
phytes twice a day. 

His dwelling was a poor hut. He erected a large cross 
which he visited and venerated at an early hour every 
morning; here too the soldiers would assemble and sing 
an alabado or hymn; then after matins and prime, Fr. Juni- 
pero would offer the holy sacrifice of the mass, at which 
the soldiers and servants attended with great devotion. 
Then all commenced to labor, Junipero everywhere di- 
recting, often during the day he would cease his labors, 
venerate the cross, and recite his rosary; this being the 
only recreation he allowed himself. 

The Indians visited him daily, and he delighted them 
by offering them strings of beads and little trinkets, after- 
wards he made the sign of the cross on their foreheads, 
and accustomed them to kiss that holy emblem. He also 
tried to pick up a few words of their language; he taught 
them to salute one another by saying: "Amar a Dios," 
to love God; and this custom became so general that it 
was adopted even by the Indians, who would thus salute 
the Spaniards when they met. Scarcely had Fr. Junipero 
the chapel and other buildings ready, when he called Fr. 
Crespi and his neophytes to him, towards the close of 
1771. They both began to christianize the Indians and 
continued their labors in the mission till their death. The 
number of christians at that time being one thousand 
and fourteen. 



CHAPTEE XL 

FOUNDING OF THE MISSION OF SAN GABRIEL — ARRIVAL OF SIX 

MISSIONARIES AT SAN DIEGO -THE PORT OF SAN 

FRANCISCO AGAIN VISITED. 



We have already seen that the six missionaries destined 
for the southern part of California had arrived in San 
Diego on July 14th. Two took the place of the former 
missionaries who had retired. After the packet-boat left, 
they began to think of founding the Mission of San Ga- 
briel. Accordingly, on the 6th of August, Frs. Cambon 
and Somera, accompanied by ten soldiers and muleteers, 
started northward, following the route of the first expe- 
dition. They arrived at the river Temblores, and while 
searching for a suitable place, they were surrounded by a 
multitude of Indians, headed by two chiefs, who shouted 
and threatened. One of the missionaries unfurled before 
the multitude a banner with an oil painting of our Lady 
of Sorrows, which the Indians had scarcely seen when, 
dropping their arrows, the two chiefs came and dej^osited 
a string of beads as a sign of peace. They soon called 
others from the rancherias, and men, women and children 
eame in crowds, carrying seed which they placed at our 
Lady's feet as an offering, thinking she might eat as 
we do. 

The Indians at San Diego were equally demonstrative 
in their expressions of joy, when the Fathers presented to 
their view a picture of our Lady with the Divine Child. 
Women would flock in from the country around, gaze with 



62 

rapture upon the beautiful Madonna, and extend tlieir 
arms as if to fondle and caress the lovely Babe. The 
unveiling of the sacred picture at San Gabriel produced 
such wonderful effects on the people that, from that day, 
they approached the Fathers without fear, and gave evi- 
dence of satisfaction at having them in their midst. On 
the 8th of September the missionaries celebrated their 
first mass under the shade of some green boughs, and the 
next day they commenced the erection of a chapel and 
necessary buildings, the Indians helping to cut the 
lumber. 

While things went on thus prosperously, an event hap.- 
pened which well nigh destroyed this good beginning. It 
seems that one of the soldiers offended a girl, and the 
wife of one of the chiefs persuaded her husband to seek 
revenge. Accordingly, the latter summoned many of his 
companions, and, while the offender and another soldier 
were guarding the horses, the Indians fell upon them. 
However, the parties attacked had time to buckle on their 
leathern jackets, and place themselves on the defensive. 
At the first onset the unfortunate chief was shot. The 
Indians, seeing their leader dead, and finding that their 
arrows seemed to take no effect, fled in consternation. 

A few days later, the commandant arrived from San 
Diego, bringing with him the two missionaries destined 
for the establishment of the Mission of San Buenaventura. 
Fearing an assault from the Indians, he sent the soldier 
who had occasioned the difficulty to Monterey, to remove 
him from the immediate pressure of the Indians. The 
commandant and Fathers were at that time wholly igno- 
rant of the nature of the crime committed. For greater 
security, sixteen soldiers were stationed at this point. 
Thus once again was the establishment of the Mission 
of San Buenaventura unavoidably postponed. 

The kindness of the Fathers soon caused the poor In- 
dians to forget the death of their chief, and, strange to 
say, one of the first children brought to the mission for 



63 

baptism was the son of their deceased ruler, and the bap- 
tismal rites were performed at the request of the bereaved 
widow. Two years after, the Christians at this mission 
numbered seventy-three, and when Fr. Junipero died, 
they had increased to one thousand and nineteen. 

The commandant, Fages, next proceeded to Monterey, 
thence to Carmelo, to visit Fr. Junipero, to whom he 
related what had happened at San Gabriel. This was a 
trying hour for the good Junipero, as the foundation of 
the Mission of San Buenaventura was a project in which 
his heart was fully enlisted. Moreover, that was the first 
mission ordered by the Visitor-General Galvez. But the 
advances made at San Gabriel consoled him, however, and 
with full confidence in Divine Providence, he awaited a 
more propitious time for the San Buenaventura enter- 
prise. But his hopes in that regard were not realized 
until after a delay of thirteen years. In fact, San Buena- 
ventura was the last mission founded by this servant of 
of God, and he used to say of it, as of the canonization 
of the Seraphic Doctor: " Tamen quo tardius, eo solem- 
nius " — the later it came the more solemn it was. 

Glowing with zeal for the establishment of new mis- 
sions, Fr. Junipero could not find a moment's rest; 
accordingly, he proposed to the commandant the founding 
of San Luis Obispo, but the latter excused himself on the 
plea of a want of troops; then Fr. Junipero suggested the 
opportuneness of exploring again the bay of San Fran- 
cisco, to which proposition the commandant consented. 
Taking with them Fr. Orespi, they set out in March, 1772. 
Whilst in the harbor of San Francisco, they learned that 
the Mission of San Diego was in want of provisions; they 
hastened to Monterey, and immediately dispatched mules 
laden with provisions for San Gabriel and San Diego. 
Fr. Crespi set out also for San Diego, to replace Fr. 
Dumetz, who had gone to Lower California to solicit the 
much needed aid. Help was soon sent them by Fr. 
Palou. 



64 

Owing to divers circumstances, the ship which was 
bearing provisions to Monterey did not arrive till three 
months after it was due, consequently they, too, began to 
feel the scarcity of supplies, and they sorely needed that 
which had been sent to San Diego. Fages, leaving a few 
soldiers at the Presidio, took with him the remainder, and 
penetrated a narrow valley called Canada de los Osos " 
(Valley of Bears), fifty leagues distant from Monterey, 
where he killed many of these ferocious animals, and 
secured from the Indians seed to support his men. In a 
letter to his dear companion, Fr. Palou, written at Monte- 
rey, August 18th, 1772, Fr. Junipero most graphically 
describes their critical situation. Amongst other things 
he says: "Thank God, the Fathers are in good health, 
and the famine which so grievously tormented so many 
others did not reach us. While waiting for our ship, we 
received news that two other vessels were coming to this 
port; one approached within two leagues of the bay, but 
could not enter. They have whale at San Diego, but here 
we have nothing. A few mules, tired and half -fed, bring 
our provisions overland. The vegetables from our garden 
and |;he milk from the cows have been the chief support 
of the people; even these have begun to get scarce. In 
spite of all, I never regret having founded these missions. 
Through our labors some souls have gone to heaven from 
Monterey, San Antonio, and San Diego. There is a great 
number of Christians to praise God. His holy Name is 
more frequently on the lips of the people here than on 
those of many Christians. Some persons fear that from 
meek lambs they will turn into lions and tigers. God 
may permit it; but those of Monterey give us reason to 
expect otherwise, for after three years of experience, we 
find them greatly improved. The promise made by God 
to St. Francis, that the people, by merely looking at his 
children, should be converted to our holy Faith, I now 
see fully realized; if they are not all Christians^ it is be- 
cause of our want of knowledge of their language. 



65 

In San Diego many adults have already received bap- 
tism; here we will, with God's help, soon have similar 
results. The children already begin to speak Spanish. 

I purpose going to San Diego with Fages, about the 
middle of next September; if your Reverence could come 
up about that time, what a mutual gratification it would 
be to embrace after our long separation, and then what a 
world of writing we would save. Do not come for my 
sake. Let us both have in view God's glory and the good 
of souls. Whether with you, or alone, by all means let 
two religious come up, for the Mission of San Buenaven- 
tura or for San Gabriel, to replace those who returned 
sick. Let those who come be well provided with patience 
and charity; having these, they will reap a rich and plen- 
tiful harvest of souls. During my absence, Fr. Pieras, 
with one of the priests from San Luis, will attend to this 
mission. The Mission of San Antonio has very materially 
assisted us during our time of distress, sending us seeds 
and pine-nuts. I owe good Fr. Pieras four loads of them. 
If Frs. Lazuen and Murgia come to this wilderness, let 
them have patience and courage ; no doubt you have need 
of the same where you are." 

At this time Fr. Palou received a letter from the Vice- 
roy, and another from the Father guardian, notifying him 
of the agreement with the Dominican Fathers, to take 
charge of the Mission of Lower California. Fr Junipero 
finding that the ships could not come up to Monterey, 
and that the mules were not able to bring up the provis- 
ions, started for San Diego to confer with the captain of 
the ship, and on his way founded the Mission of San 
Luis Obispo. He was accompanied by Fages; they 
visited San Antonio and rejoiced to find there so many 
neophytes. He took with him Fr. Caveller, for the es- 
tablishment of San Luis Obispo. They traversed the 
wilderness for about twenty leagues, till they arrived at 
the Canada de los Osos, here they found the land arable 
and a creek with plenty of water. He as usual erected a 



66 

cross, sang mass and began the mission September 1st, 
1772. He left the next day for San Diego. Father Ca- 
valier with two Indians from Lower California and four 
soldiers with their corporal remained. The only provis- 
ions being a few hundred pounds of flour and wheat, and 
a barrel of brown sugar; the missionarj^ remained, 
satisfied that God would help them. 

After the departure of Junipero, Cavalier set to work 
with zeal to cut down timber, and soon a neat chapel and 
apartments for the missionaries made their appearance. 
The soldiers next erected barracks. In a few days the 
Indians began coming down from the mountains; they 
recognized some of the soldiers whom they had met the 
previous year while hunting bears. They were soon on 
friendly terms with all, and frequently brought the 
Fathers venison and seeds; and thus they managed to 
subsist till provisions were brought. Father Palou visit- 
ing the mission the following year, found twelve christ- 
ians. He left there some christian families from 
Lower California. He assures us that when Fr. Juni- 
l^ero died there were six hundred and sixteen christ- 
ians at this mission. Crops were good, and with 
the products they were able to provide clothing for 
the Indians, This place is distant from the sea about 
three leagues, and near the little bay of Buchon; so called 
by tlie soldiers of the first expedition, who saw there an 
Indian chief with a large lump hanging from his neck, 
called in Spanish, " Buchon." Here the Indians used to 
fish. It is fifty leagues distant from Monterey, and 
twenty -five from San Antonio. 

Father Palou was of opinion that other missions should 
be erected between, for, says he, every tribe speaks a 
difierent language, and they dislike mixing with each 
other. Hence, many years after the Mission of San 
Miguel was built between San Luis and San Antonio, and 
had numerous neophytes. 



67 

Three times was the Mission of San Luis burnt to the 
ground, and to avoid a similar calamity in the future, one 
of the Fathers succeeded in making roof tiles, which were 
used in all the Missions as may be seen at the present 
day. 

The more missions Fr. Junipero founded, the greater 
was his anxiety to see more erected.. San Luis Obispo 
was the fifth he had established. But his greatest desire 
was regarding that of San Buenaventura, in the channel 
of Santa Barbara, where the Indians were very numerous. 

With this project in view he started from San Luis 
Obispo, traversing rapidly the eighty leagues between the 
latter place and San Gabriel, encountering everywhere 
great rancherias of Indians. On his arrival he rejoiced 
exceedingly at finding so many christians, whom he 
cherished and encouraged to remain faithful to their re- 
ligion. This was his first visit to San Gabriel. Continu- 
ing on his route, he reached San Diego on the 16th of 
September, and without a moments rest he went to see 
the captain and commandant of the ships, representing to 
them the difficulty of sendiug provisions by land, on 
account of the distance, and also for want of beasts of 
burden; there was besides great danger that the Indians 
might rob the convoy. He urged the necessity of for- 
warding supplies at once, to prevent the soldiers from 
deserting and joining the Indians. 

The captain alleged as a pretext for refusal that the 
season Avas now far advanced, and that he feared to 
winter away from San Diego; but the servant of God 
pleaded his cause so well, that finally trusting in the 
Almighty for a propitious voyage, the officers prepared to 
sail with the necessary help for the needy missions. 

This affair disposed of, Fr. Junipero found himself at 
San Diego with four missionaries, expecting two others 
who were coming from Lower California. He now urged 
upon Commandant Fages the establishment of San 



68 

Buenaventura; but this officer presented so many object- 
ions to that and other similar undertakings, that Fr. 
Junipero suspected that orders had emanated from 
superior authority prohibiting them; he thought it neces- 
sary for one of the missionaries to go Mexico and 
represent to the new Viceroy the great need of the 
missions, and to give him correct information regarding 
the state of affairs. He consulted about the matter with 
the other Fathers, and after recommending the affair to 
God in holy prayer, they decided that Fr. Junipero, or 
some one selected by him, should proceed to Mexico. 

The zealous Father, lame and in his sixtieth year, de- 
termined to undertake two hundred leagues of land travel 
besides an intended sea voyage, to secure the interests of 
his neophytes. 

Fr. Junipero embarked on the "San Carlos," which 
left San Diego October 20th, and after a happy voyage 
arrived at San Bias, where he heard of the change of 
missionaries in Lower California. 




g^., 



CHAPTER XII. 

JOURNEY OF FATHER JUNIPERO TO THE CAPITOL OF MEXICO- 
INCIDENTS IN HIS TRAVELS— SUCCESS OBTAINED 
BY HIS VISIT. 



Scarcely had Fr. Junipero set foot on christian soil, 
his heart still with the Indians, one of whom he brought 
with him from Monterey, than he turned his steps 
towards Tepic. On his arrival there ho wrote to Fr. 
Palou concerning some missionaries who desired to go to 
California. Learning that the Father Guardian had left 
Fr. Palou free to do as he wished regarding the visit to 
Upper California, with the spirit of a saint Fr. Junipero 
said to him : *' If your Reverence is determined that there 
we shall live and die, it will be to me a great consolation; 
I only say, act according to God's will." Though he 
earnestly desired that as many missionaries as possible 
should go from Lower to Upper California, still he says : 
' ' If the Guardian should order that only four should go 
there and the others to return to the college, I have 
nothing to say, but pray God may apply a remedy to it. 
Meanwhile let us obey." 

God seems to have anticipated the desire "of Junipero, 
as about that time Fr. Palou received a letter from the 
Father Guardian, permitting him to send seven missionar- 
ies to Upper California. 



70 

The servant of God proceeded on liis journey as far as 
Guadalajara, where he and his neophyte fell sick of a 
fever. They were reduced to the last extremity and in 
the most edifying dispositions received the last sacra- 
ments. Father Junipero was not afraid to die, but he 
feared the death of the Indian boy might possibly retard 
the conversion of other Indians, as they might suspect 
that the christians had killed him. However, God 
granted him and his neophyte a speedy recovery, and 
they continued their journey to the Capital, where they 
arrived on the 6th of January all much fatigued, and Fr. 
Junipero pale and sickly. 

The visit of our Yen. President to Mexico was truly 
opportune, as otherwise the Mission of Upper California 
might have been abandoned in consequence of the cutting 
off of supplies by his Excellency, Bucareli. 

The Viceroy had in view the abandonment of the harbor 
of San Bias, from which port the ships sailed annually 
with provisions for the missions. Heretofore, vessels had 
departed every year in February, with provisions and 
necessaries, but this season none had been sent. Some 
were of opinion that California could be provided from 
Port Guaymas, crossing the gulf to the Bay of San Luis, 
a distance of about two hundred leagues, thence overland 
on mules to Monterey, three hundred leagues more, 
through a country inhabited by various tribes of Indians. 
So that according to these wiseacres, provisions before 
reaching Monterey, would have to pass over eight hundred 
leagues by land and two hundred by water, being on the 
way two years, if indeed they would ever reach their des- 
tination. 

Fr. Junipero having been informed of the erroneous 
suggestions presented to the Viceroy, and having received 
the blessing from his prelate, presented himself to his 
Excellency, and began at once to plead the cause of the 
poor Indians. The Viceroy received him kindly, and 



71 

hearing the object of his visit, promised to lend his assist- 
ance towards the spiritual conquest of California, and 
requested him to make a memorial as to his wants. Fr. 
Junipero promised to do so, but before leaving earnestly 
solicited him to send some aid from San Bias, since from 
no other source could assistance be obtained. This first 
visit produced the desired effect; Bucareli immediately 
transmitted orders to San Bias, to hasten the completion 
of the new frigate, and that meanwhile a packet-boat with 
provisions should be despatched to Monterey. 

In accordance with these orders the '^ San Carlos" set 
sail, but encountering adverse winds, was driven to 
Loreto, where it landed its cargo. This delay caused the 
utmost distress in all the missions of California. Mis- 
sionaries and soldiers subsisting on milk alone during 
eight months. 

Fr. Junipero in his petition or memorial strenuously 
urged the necessity of keeping open the port of San Bias, 
for the welfare of the missionaries; their situation was 
most graphically portrayed, and the document so well 
pleased the Viceroy, that he sent the original to the 
Spanish court; thereupon came a royal order, to the effect 
that the port of San Bias should remain open, that seven 
officers of the navy, lieutenants, ensigns, pilots, surgeons 
and chaplains should be sent from Spain to supply vacan- 
cies in Mexico. Having obtained this much, Junipero 
asked a little more; the extension of spiritual power. His 
communication was reduced to thirty-two points, wherein 
were set forth the necessity and utility of these establish- 
ments. On presenting it to the Yiceroy he said; "In 
this statement you will find that I say nothing but what 
is true, and what I consider absolutely necessary to attain 
that which his Royal Majesty so much desires, viz: the 
conversion of souls. I trust your Excellency will deter- 
mine without delay what you deem expedient, since I 
must return as soon as possible, whether or not I obtain 



72 

what I ask; rejoicing if it is granted and resigned to the 
''Will of God if refused." 

The Viceroy was deeply moved on witnessing so much 
zeal, humility and determination, and constituted himself 
at once the protector and advocate of the cause. He 
called a junta, or council, over which he presided, and in 
which all the counsellors voted in favor of the petition 
of Junipero. 

A plan was drawn up according to law, to serve as a 
guide, and to prevent changes in the manner of acting in 
the different administrations of the commandants. The 
number of troops was increased, presidios or fortresses 
were established at San Diego, San Francisco and in the 
channel of Santa Barbara. Directions were also given 
how to provide troops. The catalonian volunteers were to 
retire, and soldiers with leathern jackets were to replace 
them, and this change was deemed advisable in the inter- 
est of the conquest. It Avas ordered that each mission 
should have six servants, who were to aid in constructing 
the buildings and in tilling the land; these were to be 
paid during five years from the Royal Exchequer; an 
abundant supply of corn, flour, cloth, beans, etc., was given 
to the value of over twelve thousand dollars. One hundred 
mules were to be distributed among the different missions. 
The Viceroy questioned Fr. Junipero as to the expe- 
diency of opening a way via the Bio Colorado, by which 
they might communicate by land with Sonora, Sinaloa 
and other provinces of Mexico, thus preventing future 
distress. The Ven. President answered in writing that 
he considered it very expedient, especially if by doing so 
they could communicate with New Mexico, until they 
would be able to find a route to Monterey. 

As soon as the Viceroy saw his plan approved, he 
issued orders to Captain Anza to go from the Presidio de 
Tibac on the frontiers of Sonora to that of Monterey, 
through the rivers Gila and Colorado. The captain hap- 



73 

pily executed these orders. The heart of the Viceroy 
was so inflamed by the long, earnest conversations which 
he held with the zealous servant of God, that no thought 
now occupied him other than the extension of these mis- 
sions as far north as possible. He proposed to the Father 
to send a maritime expedition farther north. Junipero 
had nothing more at heart than this, and he encouraged 
the plan by suggesting that the new frigate commanded 
by Perez, might after leaving Monterey explore the coast, 
in which suggestion the Viceroy concurred. 

Our Apostle having obtained far more than he ex- 
pected, was impatient to return to his adopted children. 
With the blessing of his Father Guardian, and after kissing 
the feet of all the Fathers he bade them farewell forever. 
Tears came to the eyes of many when considering the 
feebleness and old age of their companion, but none 
would dare prevent his going. Believing that he would 
die on the road, he wished to take the shortest route pos- 
sible to his dear Monterey. Accordingly in September, 

1773, he set out, accompanied by Father Pablo Mugarte- 
gui and his dear neophyte. After a journey of about two 
hundred leagues he reached Tepic. Here finding that 
the ships were not ready, he was obliged to wait tillJanu- 
ary. Meantime he gave orders that the provisions for the 
northern missions should be stored in the frigate destined 
for Monterey, and that those intended for the other mis- 
sions should be carried by the packet-boat " San An- 
tonio." 

Fr. Junipero finally sailed from Tepic on January 24th, 

1774, in the frigate ^' Santiago la nuevaGalicia." 

As he embarked, some one remarked to him; "Father, 
your prophecy made when passing here is now fulfilled. 
After we had received orders to suspend all work on the 
frigate, you said to us, ' hurry up and finish the vessel, 
for in it I shall return to Monterey.' We laughed at you 
then, as our orders were to destroy what had been done 



74 

and save the iron." Junipero answered mildly: "the 
great desire I entertained of seeing a large vessel, capa- 
ble of bringing abundance of bread to my poor children, 
caused me to speak in that way. Let us be grateful to God 
that my wishes have been granted." And after thanking 
those who had labored in the construction of the ship he 
bade them farewell. 

Though destined for Monterey, Junipero incidentally 
touched at San Diego after a voyage of forty-nine days. 
His sole desire was to be at once with his beloved neo- 
phytes at Monterey; however, he rejoiced at seeing the 
new christians of San Diego; and while there he resolved 
to continue the journey on foot, and visit all the missions, 
bringing with him the provisions which were sorely 
needed every where. He carried this resolution into 
effect, and on his route he met Captain Don Juan Bautista 
Anza, who was returning from Monterey to report to the 
Viceroy that communication was open between the pro- 
vince of Sonora and California. From him he learned of 
the distress in Monterey, at which place the people were 
forced to subsist on herbs and milk. With a sad heart 
Junipero hastened to their succor; but he found on 
arriving that the frigate, laden with provisions, was three 
days ahead of him, having made its appearance on the 9th 
of May. It is needless to say that universal joy prevailed 
when it was understood that the danger of famine had 
vanished, and that the beloved Father was once more in 
the midst of his flock . 



CHAPTEE XIII. 



EXPLORATION BY SEA TO THE NORTH OF MONTEREY. 



To satisfy the noble desires of his Excellency the Vice- 
roy, the frigate " Santiago" was sent to explore the coast 
as far north as practicable, and to ascertain whether the 
country was inhabited by roaming tribes of Indians. 
Mindful of the promise made by God to St. Francis, that 
the mere sight of his religious will tend to convert the 
Indians, the Viceroy desired that one or two missionaries 
should go on board. Frs. Crespi and Pena were selected 
for this expedition, and, full of confidence in God, they 
sailed from Monterey on the 11th of June, 1774. 

They passed as far north as the 55° degree, British Co- 
lumbia, where they noticed an island which they called 
Santa Margarita, owing to the fact that it was discovered 
on the feast of that saint. Whilst surveying the coast, it 
was observed that the island was well peopled by Indians. 
Several attempts were made to land for the purpose of 
planting the holy cross, but contrary winds prevented. 
However, the voyagers had some communication with the 
Indians, as the latter approached in their canoes, and 
some even boarded the frigate and exchanged well pol- 
ished woods, hair blankets, and mats made from the bark 
of trees, with the sailors for pieces of iron and bead 
trinkets. We are told that these Indians were of uniform 
height, dressed in skins and hair-cloth, and were amiable 



76 

in disposition; their women decently covered and of fine 
appearance, but disfigured by wearing a wooden tablet in 
the lower lip, fastened by means of a perforation. The 
effect of this peculiar ornamentation was to drag down 
and distort the mouth. 

This expedition returned on the 27th of August of the 
same year. Keports were sent to the Viceroy, who, not 
being satisfied, ordered another cruise, directing that it 
should proceed still farther north, and search for a good 
harbor where the cross and the Spanish flag could be 
raised. 

The second expedition, consisting of the frigate " San- 
tiago " and a schooner, both under command of Don 
Bruno Ezeta, sailed from San Bias about the middle of 
March, 1775. Frs. Miguel Campo and Benito Sierra 
accompanied it. After contrary winds, which brought 
them as far south as the 17'' degree, it became more favor- 
able, and they sailed north to the 41''; here they touched 
land, and found a moderately good harbor; they took 
possession of the place, elevated a cross and the Spanish 
standard; here, too, they sang mass and preached. It 
being the feast of the Most Holy Trinity, the place was 
called and is now known as Trinity Bay. On the 13th of 
July., they touched upon a lovely spot in latitude 47*^ 23'. 
Here, again, they anchored and erected a cross. On the 
30th of the same month, the schooner was separated from 
the frigate, and they did not meet again till October, at 
the harbor of Monterey, 

The frigate went as far north as the 47 J degree; but 
the captain, finding the scurvy had broken out among 
the crew, determined to return, to survey the coast and 
search for the schooner, and he ultimately arrived at 
Monterey, August 29th of that year. 

The schooner had followed the coast in search, also, of 
the frigate, and went as far north as the 58th degree, 
where a good harbor was discovered, which they called 



77 

Our Lady of Remedios; they took possession of it, and 
erected a cross. An attempt was made to advance farther 
north; but a strong gale forced them back to the 55th 
degree; here they found a strait, which they supposed to 
be the celebrated Paso del Norte, or Northern Passage, 
so much sought for by the English. In honor of the 
Viceroy who sent them, they called it Bucareli. They 
surveyed and made maps of the coast. On the 3d of 
October, they reached Punta Reyes, where they discov- 
ered a good harbor. Here more than two hundred Indians 
greeted them, and, that night signalized the occasion by 
making a large fire. On the following day the party was 
in imminent danger of shipwreck, owing to the roughness 
of the sea. They lost a boat, and fearing that the vessel 
might also go down, they weighed anchor, named the place 
Bodega, in honor of the captain of the schooner, and 
sailed for Monterey, which they reached on the 7th of 
October. Here, to their great surprise, they found the 
frigate and the packet-boat ^'San Carlos." Eight days 
later, they all went to the Mission of San Carlos, where a 
mass of thanksgiving was celebrated in honor of Our 
Lady, during which every one, from the highest officer to 
the humblest sailor, received the Holy Communion. 

The reader may think that, in relating the account of 
these explorations to the north, we digress too much from 
our principal subject, namely: The Life and Apostolic 
Labors of Fr. Junipero. But this view, if taken, would 
be mistaken, for the digression was necessary; in fact, it 
was a happy one, since it redounded to the honor and 
glory of our hero, as may be seen by the letter which the 
Viceroy, Bucareli, wrote, thanking him for the prosperous 
issue of the explorations. 

The new discoveries, made by the ships of the King, 
says the Viceroy, are the object of your letter, in which 
you send me congratulations, which I received with pleas- 
ure; but your Reverence is deserving, also, of many 



• 78 

thanks for having celebrated such an event with all pos- 
sible solemnity. I am satisfied that your zeal and that of 
the other Fathers will be the best guarantee for the 
extension of the gospel, to which end are directed all the 
pious wishes of our monarch. This letter is dated Mexico, 
January 20th, 1776. 

Nor was the zeal of Bucareli diminished. He sent 
another expedition in the year 1779, the incidents of 
which will be narrated in order to enable us to more in- 
telligently proceed with the life of Fr. Junipero. Bucareli 
sent to Peru for a new frigate, called ^'Favorita," which, 
with the "Princesa," he fitted for a third exploration, 
obtaining at the time from the College of San Fernando, 
in Mexico, two missionaries, Frs. Riobo and Noriega, to 
accompany the venture. They sailed from San Bias, 
February 12th, 1779. It was agreed that, should they 
separate, a meeting would be had at the 55th degree 
north — i. e., at the Strait of Bucareli — which they reached 
safely on the 3d of May. They found here an inland sea 
and a cluster of islands, located in what is called at pres- 
ent British Columbia. They held communication with 
many tribes of Indians, whom they describe as robust 
and well formed. They bought from these natives three 
boys and three girls, whom they afterwards instructed 
and baptized. They named this harbor Bucareli, in honor 
of the Yiceroy. On the 1st of August they found them- 
selves as far north as the 60th degree, the coast tending in 
a northwesterly direction. There, we are told, was dis- 
covered an extensive port, well protected from the wind 
by an abundance of trees. They landed, and called the 
harbor Santiago. It is supposed that this was Cook's 
lolet. The navigators landed, and on the summit of a 
hill, close by, they formed a procession, and, carrying the 
cross, sang the hymn " Vexilla Eegis." 

A pilot and some troops were sent to examine the har- 
bor and ascertain its extent. After advancing for some 



79 

distance, they encountered two canoes with peaceable 
Indians, and returned without further adventure. Mean- 
while, those on board the frigate had frequent and easy 
intercourse with the natives. They noticed among the 
Indians who visited them a man who manifested not the 
least surprise at sight of the frigate, and who, by signs, 
made them understand that at a little distance there were 
many large ships, which led his hearers to suppose that 
the Russian settlement was not far off; they even sus- 
pected that the man was a Russian under the guise of an 
Indian, and had been sent to watch the movements of the 
Spanish. They were confirmed in this opinion by the 
fact that there arose before them the volcano then called 
by the Russians St. Elias. 

When the surveying detachment returned, all supposed 
that the frigates would proceed to examine the newly 
found arm of the sea; but contrary orders were given, 
namely: To investigate only along the coast. As they 
were then about 59 degrees north latitude, they were in 
imminent danger from a heavy fog, accompanied with 
rain, which lasted for twenty-five hours, and in conse- 
quence of which they found it impossible to ascertain 
their whereabouts. 

Then the commandant ordered that the image of Our 
Lady, under the title of '*Regla," should be brought on 
deck, and a Salve Regina was sung in her honor. The 
fog thereupon totally disappeared, and the adventurers 
saw before them a beautiful and capacious bay, in which, 
after anchoring, they called Our Lady of Regla. 

The season being now far advanced, and many of the 
men sick, the commandant declared the explorations at 
an end, and gave orders to sail promptly for one of the 
ports of California. This order was complied with, and 
the vessels in question entered the Bay of San Francisco 
on the 14th and 15th of September; here they remained 
till October. A feast of thanksgiving celebrated the de- 



80 

liverance of the expedition from so many perils. Mass 
was sung and a sermon preached on October 3d. The 
next day, being the feast of St. Francis, patron of that 
mission, another mass was solemnized, and another pro- 
cession took place, in honor of the Saint. Fr. Palou was 
then located at and in charge of that mission. 

There he had the pleasure of baptizing the three boys 
brought from the north, leaving a fourth, who was a little 
older, for further instruction. Whilst preparing to leave 
this port, news came that Bucareli, the Viceroy, had died. 
This news gave rise to universal sorrow, as the deceased 
had proved himself a great benefactor of the missions. 
Father Palou, with a true Christian spirit, expressed the 
hojDe that his soul had already received its merited 
reward. 

It is true that Fr. Junipero did not work personally in 
these expeditions, and it may seem that we might have 
omitted the details given concerning them. Still, it will 
always be to the honor of Serra that his visit to Mexico 
awakened a desire in the heart of his Excellency, the 
Viceroy, to encourage the making of discoveries, and that 
this was accomplished by that missionary's wise and 
forcible suggestions. "The port of Trinity," says Buca- 
reli, in a letter to Fr. Junipero, "discovered by Bruno 
Ezeta, invites us to a settlement to which your zeal shall 
contribute." 

Had the life of the zealous Viceroy been prolonged, and 
had he learned the result of the last expeditions, and 
witnessed the effect of Fr. Junipero's arrival — i. e., the 
great prosperity and productiveness of the missions — he 
would no doubt have extended the missionary establish- 
ments as far north as the famous port called in his honor 
Bucareli. 

According to Fr. Palou, the increase of cattle was truly 
wonderful. Only eighteen head were given to each mis- 
sion when founded; but, in 1784, the returns show that 



81 

the nine missions tlien existing had 5,384 head of cattle, 
5,269 head of sheep, and 4,294 goats. The crops of wheat, 
corn, barley, beans, and other cereals, amounted to 15,800 
bushels, which not only furnished enough to provide for 
the neophytes, but the soldiers weire permitted to pur- 
chase adequate supplies from the same source. 

Fr. Palou concludes his narrative of these maritime 
expeditions by telling us that the first fruits of missionary 
exertion among the northern Indians, viz., the youths 
brought and baptized in San Francisco, had gone to 
heaven, where they will, says that pious man, intercede 
for the conversion of their nation. The sons of St. 
Francis had never before advanced so far north, and even 
afterwards the missionary establishments were not pushed 
greatly beyond the locality where Palou wrote his history. 

Other missionaries, in due course of events, continued 
the good work, and the Catholic Church extends now as 
far north as Alaska, knowing no other barrier than that 
of the frozen sea. 






CHAPTEE XIV. 

APOSTOLIC LABORS OF FATHER JUNIPERO SERRA AFTER HIS 

RETURN FROM MEXICO — FATHER JAYME IS PUT TO 

DEATH IN HIS MISSION OF SAN DIEGO. 



The Ven. President arrived at liis Mission of San Carlos 
about the middle of May, 1774, and after a few days 
spent in unloading the provisions and in hastening the 
expedition to the north, as related in the last chapter, he 
directed all his energies to the instruction of his neophytes, 
to prepare them for baptism; day after day he was sur- 
rounded by them, and soon the number of baptized was 
very great. 

About this time there arrived at the Presidio Captain 
Rivera, who came to replace Captain Pages of the catalo- 
nian volunteers, it having been decided by the the council 
of war that the troops wearing the leathern jackets were 
better adopted for these places. 

Our Apostle, though well aware that the number of 
christians in each mission was increasing, was not satis- 
fied; he desired the establishment of other similar insti- 
tutions; but the new regulations forbade this until there 
should be sufficient troops; unless, said the code, a few 
soldiers can be taken from the missions already estab- 
lished, and by this means the requisite number obtained 
for additional establishments. Pr. Junipero consulted 



83 

with Captain Rivera on the subject. That officer agreed 
that a new mission should be built and he allotted six 
soldiers for that purpose. The proposition was referred 
to the Viceroy, who in a letter of August 17th, approved 
the establishment of a new mission between San Diego 
and San Gabriel, to be called San Juan Capistrano. 

Frs. Lazuen and Amurrio were appointed for the 
new mission; they left Monterey accompanied by a few 
soldiers, with the necessary articles. Fr. Amurrio 
remained at San Gabriel, while Fr. Lazuen with the 
Lieutenant Commander of the Presidio went in search of 
a suitable location for the mission. Towards the end of 
October they left San Diego, and having found a desira- 
ble spot they erected a cross and made a hut of the 
boughs of trees, and in that Fr. Lazuen celebrated the 
holy mass for the first time. This was on October 30th, 
the Octave of the Patron Saint, St. Juan Capistrano. 
The Indians showed that they were friendly, and even 
assisted the new comers to cut timber. Eight days after- 
wards Fr. Amurrio arrived with provisions, and all hearts 
rejoiced at the bright prospects. That very same evening 
a messenger arrived from San Diego, with the sad neAvs 
that the Indians had revolted, set fire to the buildings, 
and killed one of the missionaries, Fr. Jayme. The 
lieutenant and sergeant, taking with them some soldies, 
started in haste for San Diego, begging the Fathers to do 
the same, who hastily buried the bells, and taking all 
their cargo, left also for the scene of the disaster. 

In November 1775, Fr. Luis Jayme and his companion 
Fr. Vincent Fuster were busily engaged in instructing the 
neophytes. They had reaped an abundant harvest, so 
great indeed, that on the 3rd of October, 1775, they bap- 
tized sixty Indians. This kindled the jealousy of the 
enemy of souls, at whose instigation the Indians 
attempted the destruction of the mission. The previous 
year the Fathers had moved to a very fertile spot, about 



84 

two leagues distant from the liarbor of San Diego, and 
from the Presidio. This move emboldened the savages 
to make the attack about to be described. Two of the 
recently baptized neophytes, under pretence of visiting 
some relatives, left the mission, and went from rancheria 
to rancheria, telling the natives that the Fathers were 
about to baptize them by force, stating the number who 
had been made christians in one day. Some credited the 
sfcory, others doubted it; but the majority yielded to the 
persuasions of the two apostates, who left no means un- 
tried to arouse indignation against the priests. Mean- 
while all went on as usual at San Diego, nothing indicated 
the heineous crime about to be perpetrated. The Indians 
were quiet, the traitorous pair having been missed, search 
was made for them by the soldiers, and information was 
received that the fugitives had gone to the mountains. 
Over a thousand Indians assembled, mostly strangers to 
each other; they had been convened by crafty ringleaders 
and were well armed with arrows and " macanas," which 
latter is a wooden sword used by the Indians, and is in 
form like a cimitar. They were to divide themselves into 
two parties, one to attack the mission, the other the pre- 
sidio ; this latter attack was to be made after the mission 
buildings had been set on fire. 

On the night of the 4th of November, the hostiles 
arrived in the valley of the San Diego river, where divid- 
ing according to understanding, one party proceeded to 
the presidio, the other fell upon the mission, taking the 
precaution to place centries in all the huts of christian 
Indians, threatening the latter with death if they dared 
to move or give the alarm. The greater number of the 
assailants rushed to the church and vestry, which they 
robbed of its sacred vessels and vestments. They next 
advanced upon the barracks, and finding the soldiers 
asleep, snatched fire brands from the hearth and set fire 
to the barracks and adjacent buildings.- The blaze and 
the horrid shouts of the miscreants awoke both Fathers 



85 

and soldiers; when the latter seized their arms for de- 
fense, the Indians had already commenced to discharge 
their arrows. Fr. Vincent seeing danger, took the son 
and nephew of the officer of the Presidio, and fled hastily 
to where the soldiers were standing. In one building 
lived the blacksmith and the carpenter of the mission, 
with them resided Ursulino the carpenter of the Presidio, 
who having become sick, had been brought to the mis- 
sion to recuperate. Fr. Jayme who slept in another 
building, seeing the conflagration judged it to be accident- 
al. He rushed out, and meeting a large group of Indians 
greeted them with the usual salutation: ^* Let us love 
God my children." When the Indians caught sight of 
the Father, they charged upon him with wolf like ferocity, 
and dragged him to the creek, and after stripping him of 
his habits they beat him, and otherwise ill treated him 
until he fell dead, his body pierced with numerous 
arrows; nor were the murderous wretches satiated, they 
crushed the holy man's head and mutilated his body till 
his hands only were recognizable, those were left un- 
touched. It would seem that divine providence preserved 
his consecrated hands as a proof of his innocence, and to 
proclaim that they had ever been employed in doing 
good. Meanwhile another band of Indians assailed the 
hut in which were the carpenter and blacksmith, the latter 
came forth with drawn sword, but immediately fell dead, 
pierced by an arrow; the carpenter seized and discharged 
the deceased's gun, killing a savage. The other enemy 
retreated, allowing the carpenter an opportunity to join 
the soldiers. Poor Ursulino being unable to move, re- 
ceived a mortal arrow wound. Aware of his situation, he 
cried out, *'0h, Indian thou hast killed me! may God for- 
give thee." When the Indians learned that one of the 
Fathers had been assassinated, they eagerly inquired 
which of the two, and on being told it was the ''rezador," 
(the one who was always praying) they gave vent to their 
joy by wild shouting. 



86 

The band intrusted for the destruction of the presidio, 
fearing discovery, returned and joining those at the mis- 
sion., all now fell on the barracks. The soldiers defended 
themselves valiantly, especially the corporal, who per- 
formed heroic deeds of valor. Seeing the terrible effects 
of the gun, the savages set fire to the building, and the 
roof being of straw and the walls of paling, the inmates 
were soon obliged to abandon it. They sought refuge in 
a little room of adobe which had served as a kitchen; this 
had but three walls, a roof of dry branches, and the 
remaining side was wholly exposed to the enemy; the 
soldiers ran to the burning building to procure bundles 
and boxes with which to shelter themselves. In doing 
this two soldiers were wounded and rendered unable to 
defend themselves further. There now remained only 
the corporal and one soldier and the carpenter to face the 
enemy. The corporal being a sharp-shooter, told the 
others to load the guns and that he would do the shoot- 
ing; in consequence any Indian who approached this place 
was killed or wounded. The infuriated savages seeing 
that the adobe walls protected their foes from the arrows, 
burned the dry branches with which the room was 
covered, but as the inflamable material was scarce, the 
fire did not oblige the soldiers to leave. However, there 
was great danger that the powder upon which the 
Spaniards relied, would explode. Fr. Vincent seeing 
the character of the peril covered the powder with his 
habit, and in doing so endangered his own life. 

The Indians perceiving that the fire did not oblige their 
proposed victims to surrender, threw burning coals and 
pieces of adobe over the walls, and they succeeded in 
wounding the Father, but not seriously. Our gallant 
little party defended themselves bravely till day break, 
when the Indians fearing that help would come from the 
Presidio, fled, carrying with them the wounded and the 
dead. 



87 

Scarcely had tliey retired when the christian Indians 
came out from their huts, and with msmy tears and 
lamentations related the story of their confinement, and 
their inability to render assistance during the trials of 
that night. The Father anxiously inquired for his miss- 
ing companion, Fr. Jayme. Search was immediately 
made for him and his mutilated remains were discovered 
near the creek where the massacre took place. His 
body was tenderly raised with the greatest reverence, 
and was born to Fr. Vincent, who hearing ^the lamenta- 
tions of the mourners, comprehended at once the nature 
of the bereavement. At the sight of the mangled body 
of his beloved companion the good priest almost lost 
consciousness. 

He had two biers made on which the bodies of Fr. 
Jayme and that of the blacksmith were borne to the 
chapel of the Presidio, where they were interred. The 
carpenter Ursulino died five days after this date, having 
in a truly christian spirit bequeathed his savings to his 
murderers. Soon soldiers arrived from the projected 
Mission of San Juan Capistrano; here they awaited orders 
from their President, Fr, Junipero Serra. 

The news of the disastrous events at San Diego reached 
Monterey on the 13th of December, and, though late at 
night. Captain Rivera set out at once for the Mission of 
of San Carlos, to communicate the sad tidings to Fr. 
Junipero; who on hearing of the death of Fr. Jayme, 
exclaimed: "Thanks be to God that land is watered; now 
we will obtain the conversion of the Indians of San 
Diego." The next day a requiem mass was sung, at 
which six priests assisted, among them Fr. Palou, who 
affirms that the zeal and virtues of the murdered priest 
were so great, that in the opinion of all his soul needed 
not their supplications, but they piously believed that he 
had gone directly to heaven to receive a martyr's crown. 
However, the President adoring the judgments of God, 



^hich are inscrutable, determined that each priest should 
celebrate twenty masses for him, and an understanding 
to that effect was accordingly made. 

Fr. Junipero wrote so his Guardian and the "Viceroy, 
sorely lamenting the rash act of the poor Indians, and 
fearing it might retard their conversion. Like a true 
Father he pleaded with his Excellency for the misguided 
natives, and implored his clemency for them. At the 
same time he begged that the number of troops should be 
increased, so that the foundation of the contemplated 
missions should not be retarded. 

Captain Kivera left Monterey December 16th, and 
visited the Missions of San Antonio and San Luis Obispo, 
which he found prosperous and peaceful. At San 
Gabriel he met Captain Anza, who with forty soldiers 
had come from Sonora, and he also brought some people 
to settle the Port- of San Francisco. Both captains 
agreed to go down to San Diego to search for and punish 
the ringleaders of the revolt. They at once wrote to the 
Viceroy to that effect. His Excellency received the letters 
of these officers, but that of Fr. Junipero miscarried. 
Thinking the communication had been mislaid or delayed, 
he wrote to the Ven. President a letter of condolence, at 
the same time informing him of the precautions he had 
taken to prevent a similar disaster, and of the strict 
orders he had issued to the newly appointed Governor of 
California, Don Felipe Neve, who was then setting out 
with twenty-five more soldiers, and was also providing 
for other recruits. Eight days after he had written this 
letter, which was dated Mexico, March 26th, 1776, he re- 
ceived Fr. Junipero's missive to which he replied: ^^In 
view of the prudent and christian reflections expressed in 
your letter, inclining rather to soften the rebels by kind- 
ness than to punish them; I have written to the Comman- 
der Rivera so to act, thinking it the best method of iDaci- 
fying and winning them, and such a policy would perhaps 



89 

also aid us in gaining the neighboring tribes, who seeing 
that thej are treated with lenity, while on account of their 
excesses they deserve punishment. I have given orders 
to my officers to rebuild the Mission of San Diego, and 
to establish that of San Juan Capistrano." This letter 
bears date April 3rd, 1776, 

Had Fr. Junipero received this news in due time, he 
would have been spared much anxiety and suffering re- 
garding the rebuilding of San Diego and the establish- 
ment of San Juan Capistrano. 




CHAPTER Xy. 

FATHER JUNIPERO GOES TO SAN DIEGO — USELESS EFFORTS TO 

RE-ESTABLISH THE MISSION— ARRIVAL OF TROOPS— THE 

MISSION IS RE-ESTABLISHED, AND THAT OF 

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO FOUNDED. 



It was not until June 30tli that Fr. Junipero could 
accomplish the ardent desire of his heart, viz., that of 
going to San Diego. He went down in the packet-boat 
"Principe," and made the voyage in twelve days. He 
found there the two San Juan missionaries, and one who 
belonged at San Diego. His presence was consoling to 
them, and, being most anxious to go to work at once, he 
went to the captain of the packet, Don Diego Choquet, 
and asked him, in honor of San Diego, whose name he 
bore, that he would allow some of his sailors to aid in 
rebuilding the mission. The captain replied: "Not only 
the sailors shall help, but I will go myself as a common 
laborer." Elated by this satisfactory answer, the Ven. 
President wrote to the commandant, Eivera, asking him 
for some soldiers. The captain immediately detailed five 
of his sailors and a corporal to assist in the work. 

Fr. Junipero, with two other missionaries, the marine 
officers, and twenty soldiers, with some laborers, set out 
for the spot where the mission had been. For two weeks 
they labored with such enthusiasm that hopes were enter- 



91 

tained that, before the sailing of the ship, the church and 
the other buildings would be completed. However, the 
enemy of mankind could not bear to see the good work 
going on so prosperously, and accordingly he availed 
himself, not of poor ignorant Indians, but of the caprice 
of a Christian officer, to carry out his nefarious designs. 
On the 8th of September, Captain Kivera went to the 
mission and informed the principal officer that rumors 
were current that the Indians would again attack the 
mission, and that he deemed it necessary to retire with 
his men on board of his ship. The marine officer saw 
there was no ground to tear an outbreak, and he entreated 
Kivera to investigate carefully as to whether the rumor 
had any foundation; but the captain would listen to no 
reasoning, and insisted on carrying out his programme, 
to which Choquet reluctantly acceded, protesting that it 
would be a shame for the Spanish army to suspend work 
at the mere rumor of an outbreak. The latter officer 
communicated his views to Fr. Junipero, who felt his 
heart wounded as though it had been struck with an 
arrow, but he only said: "Let the will of God be done! 
He alone can remedy this evil." And he begged the 
Fathers to commit the affair to God in holy prayer. 

The Viceroy, having been informed by Captain Choquet 
of the interruption in the work, felt it very keenly, and 
wrote immediately to Governor Neve, who resided at 
Loreto, requesting him to take up his abode at Monterey, 
and he ordered Captain Eivera to retire to Loreto. He 
informed Fr. Junipero of this decision in a long letter, 
written on the 25th of December, 1776. We will select a 
few extracts from it to show the zeal of this truly Chris- 
tian Viceroy: 

"The suspension of the Mission of San Diego must 
have caused a severe pain to your Eeverence, as it has 
greatly displeased me, much more so as I am aAvare of the 
improper motives which caused it, which were made 
known to me by the Lieutenant of the Navy, Don Diego 



92 

Choquet. I suppose that, with the twenty-five soldiers 
sent to reinforce that Presidio, Don Fernando Eivera will 
devote himself to the erection of the Mission of San Juan 
Capistrano; but if he does not, the Governor of the 
Province, who has orders to reside at Monterey, will do 
it. I have ordered the Governor to have San Diego re- 
established, and not to punish the ringleaders of the last 
outbreak, hoping that they will themselves learn to regret 
their misdeeds. I likewise ordered him to erect the Mis- 
sion of Santa Clara, in the neighborhood of the Presidio 
of San Francisco. The Governor, Don Felipe Neve, is 
directed to have recourse to your counsels, and to consult 
me in whatever is necessary to insure a happy result." 

Had these letters reached our apostle in proper time, 
they would have spared him mnch trouble and anxiety. 
As it was, while waiting for them, he suffered a prolonged 
martyrdom. Although God tries his servants in many 
ways, they know that their suffering is but for a time, and 
when the storm is over, there will come a perfect calm. 
Twenty-one days after the work had been discontinued, 
there arrived from Lower California twenty-five soldiers, 
bringing two letters to Fr. Junipero. His pleasure knew 
no bounds, and he gave expression to it by the joyful 
pealing of bells, and the celebration of a high mass, on 
the following day, which happened to be the feast of St. 
Michael the Arch-Angel, and the patron of the Missions. 

Captain Eivera, having received orders from his supe- 
rior, liberated the Indians, whom he was going to send to 
San Bias, and detailed twelve soldiers as a guard to j)ro- 
tect the workmen in the rebuilding of the San Diego Mis- 
sion. He also sent ten of the military for a similar pur- 
pose to San Juan Capistrano, and left thirty at the 
Presidio; he, with twelve soldiers destined for San Fran- 
cisco, went to Monterey, that he might not witness the 
re-establishment of San Diego, and the foundation of San 
Juan, to which enterprises he seemed much opposed. 



93 

Our zealous missionary, finding himself free to labor, 
went from the Presidio to the mission, with his neophytes, 
who toiled untiringly in rebuilding the mission. He wrote 
to the Viceroy, thanking him for his clemency to the poor 
Indians, and also for the reinforcement of soldiers. Then, 
together with Frs. Mugartegui and Amurrio, he proceeded 
to the place where the bells had been buried, and with 
the usual ceremonies founded the Mission of San Juan 
Capistrano. 

In his zeal, he exposed his life to great danger. He 
went to San Gabriel to procure a few neophytes to assist 
at the buildings, and also to borrow some cattle. On his 
return, he took with him only one soldier and a Christian 
Indian. Having proceeded about ten leagues, they were 
suddenly overtaken by a multitude of savages, painted, 
and well armed with arrows. They shouted and threat- 
ened the Father and his two companions. The Christian 
Indian, in his native tongue, bade them beware, as many 
soldiers were approaching from the rear, which intelli- 
gence at once caused the assailants to drop their arrows, 
and even to become transformed into meek lambs. Fr. 
Junipero called them to him, made the sign of the cross 
on their foreheads, pacified and gained their confidence 
by giving them beads, and thus converted them from 
enemies into friends. 

The Mission of San Juan Capistrano is situated in a 
lovely spot, from where the sea can be seen, and like- 
wise the ships sailing by. There the Fathers devoted 
themselves to the cultivation of the vine, pomegranates, 
and other fruit; in a short time they had also good crops 
of wheat, corn, and beans, which supplied not only the 
neophytes, but even the soldiers. 

With the aid of an interpreter, the Ven. President 
explained to the Indians that it was only for their good 
that the Fathers had come to live among them; and we 
are told that, while the Indians of the other missions were 



94 

in tlie beginning over-anxious for bodily comforts, those 
of San Juan were solicitous only for baptism, asking it 
most earnestly from the missionaries, and finding the 
time required for preliminary instruction too long. 

At the time of Fr. Junipero's death, that mission al- 
ready numbered four hundred and seventy Christians; 
and afterwards the number increased so rapidly that in 
three months there were more natives baptized than 
during the three years and a half previous. Owing, no 
doubt, says Fr. Mugartegui, to the prayers of Fr. Juni- 
pero, who promised to continue, even after death, praying 
for the conversion of his dear Indians. 

His zeal for the propagation of the gospel could not 
be satisfied; so, having re-established San Diego, and 
founded San Juan Capistrano, Fr. Junipero was anxious 
to learn whether the Mission of San Francisco had been 
established; for this purpose, after visiting San Gabriel, 
San Luis Obispo, and San Antonio, he arrived at San 
Carlos in the month of January, 1777, where the cheering 
intelligence awaited him that the Missions of San Fran- 
cisco and Santa Clara had already been founded. 




CHAPTER XYI. 

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MISSION OF SAN FRANCISCO AND SANTA 

CLARA — WISE ORDERS GIVEN BY THE VICEROY — FATHER 

JUNIPERO VISITS THESE MISSIONS AND FOUNDS 

THE PUEBLO OF SAN JOSE. 



During the stay of the Viceroy in Mexico, one of the 
favors which Fr. Junipero asked was permission to found 
the two Missions of San Francisco and Santa Clara. The 
zealous Bucareli promised to do all in his power, as soon 
as he could dispose of the troops required, and as soon as 
the way would be opened over the Rio Colorado. 

We have seen that Captain Anza discovered a road from 
Sonora to California, and after having reported favorably, 
the Viceroy wrote to that ofiicer to prepare himself for 
another expedition, and to try io raise thirty married sol- 
diers, who, with their families, could settle and form a 
pueblo, and who would leave Mexico in the beginning of 
the year 1775. 

In his letter of December, 1774, to Fr. Junipero, the 
Viceroy notified him of this second expedition; but this 
gratifying intelligence reached him by the packet-boat 
*' San Carlos, as late as the 27th of June, 1775. 

The marine officer of the Royal Navy had orders to 
survey the port of San Francisco, which he accordingly 



96 

did, entering it at night, through what we now call the 
Golden Gate. That channel, says Fr. Palou, is three 
miles in length, and a mile and a half in width, with 
strong currents. They observed within "the bay (which 
they called Mediterranean Sea) two arms of water — one 
running southeast for fifteen leagues, and the other four 
or five leagues to the north, within which they found a 
bay almost round, about ten leagues in width, where the 
great river of our Father St. Francis empties. All these 
bodies of water empty into the Pacific through the way 
called Farallones. 

The packet remained there during forty days, and a 
barge, which was engaged in surveying the whole bay, 
had frequent communications with the Indians living 
along its shores. The captain, being asked if he thought 
it a good harbor, answered that it was not only one great 
harbor, but that it contained many, that several fleets 
could be anchored there, without the one knowing of the 
others being present. 

A map and a description of this renowned harbor was 
forwarded to the Viceroy, who was more than desirous to 
have a mission established there at once. But the dis- 
tance by land being nearly one thousand leagues, the 
expedition was not able to complete the journey within a 
short time. They were, however, at San Gabriel on the 
4th of January, 1776, to which point, as we said in a pre- 
vious chapter, the outbreak at San Diego obliged Captain 
Anza to repair. 

Anza had orders to proceed to survey the port of San 
Francisco. After leaving Monterey, and in company with 
Lieutenant Moraga, he complied with this direction. 
Captain Anza impressed upon Captain Rivera the expedi- 
ency of establishing these northern missions as soon as 
possible, and suggested that if he could not come up, he 
might send Lieutenant Moraga, reminding him that the 
settlers were weary of waiting at Monterey, that not being 



97 

their destination; and having accomplished his commis- 
sion, he, with ten soldiers, returned to Sonora to report 
to the Viceroy. Upon receipt of this letter. Captain 
Rivera sent orders to Lieutenant Moraga to accompany 
those who had come from Sonora to found the Presidio 
of San Francisco. A few days after this mandate was 
received, there arrived at Monterey the two packet-boats, 
'*E1 Principe" and ''San Carlos," the captain of the 
latter having instructions to go to San Francisco and aid 
in founding the mission. 

Fr. Palou and Fr. Cambon were directed by their Presi- 
dent to accompany the land expedition, which was com- 
posed of Lieutenant Moraga, a sergeant, and sixteen sol- 
diers, all married, besides seven setijiers, with their 
numerous families, servants, herders, and mule-drivers. 
The priests took with them two servants, two Indian 
neophytes of Lower California, and one from Carmelo to 
serve as interpreter, but he proved useless, as the Indians 
of San Francisco spoke a different language. 

Four days anterior to reaching the harbor, they ob- 
served, in a great plain called San Bernardino, herds of 
cattle, seemingly of .the bovine genus, which, however, 
were deer, or something similar to oxen, having horns so 
long that they measured sixty-four inches from point to 
point. The soldiers killed three of them, which were so 
large that a mule could not carry one but a very short 
distance. The flesh they pronounced delicious. They ran 
in the direction of the wind, and their large horns resem- 
bled fans. They saw, also, other smaller animals, called 
venado stags, of a bay color, besides herds of deer num- 
bering two or three hundred, not larger than a buck of 
two or three years, with small horns and short legs, like 
the antelopes. It was difficult to tire them on the plains, 
but the soldiers succeeded in killing some by enticing 
them from the herds and pursuing them towards the hills. 

The expedition halted in a place called even to this day 
Creek of Las Llagas de San Francisco, the dividing line 



98 

between the Archdiocese of San Francisco and the Diocese 
of Monterey, and which is about eight miles north of 
Gilroy. On the 27th of June, they arrived in the neigh- 
borhood of San Francisco Bay, and pitched their tents, 
to the number of fifteen, on the banks of a great laguna 
which empties into the bay. The Indians soon came to 
visit them, manifesting all the demonstrations of peace, 
and bringing muscles and seeds to the men of the expe- 
dition. 

The following day, under a shade of evergreens, Fr. 
P^lou celebrated the first mass in honor of the Sts. Peter 
and Paul, whose feast the church commemorates upon that 
day. Here they remained an entire month, awaiting the 
arrival of the packet-boat. Each day the holy mass was 
offered, and they daily visited the rancher ias, finding the 
Indians in every instance well disposed. 

They surveyed the country around and found them- 
selves in a peninsula from which there was no exit, except 
in a south or south-eastern direction. Fr. Palou says: 
towards the ocean we have an arm of the sea extending 
south-east, but land can be seen on the other side, this 
arm being only three leagues wide. In a northern direc- 
tion we observe another arm of the sea towards the west 
and south, the Farallones are located and here also is the 
entrance to the harbor. 

Whilst awaiting the arrival of the vessel, the mission- 
aries cut timber near the mouth of the bay for the Presidio 
Mission, which latter was to be built near the Laguna 
on the plain. After waiting a month, Lieutenant Fages 
seeing that no orders came from the Commandant Eivera, 
left six soldiers and two of the settlers in the place 
designed for the mission, and moved towards the entrance 
of the harbor. 

At length, after a perilous voyage, the packet-boat 
arrived August 18th. All now went heartily to work and 
with the aid of the sailors a chapel and store house 



99 

were erected at the presidio, and a chapel, store house 
and dwelling for the Fathers at the mission; the soldiers 
constructed barracks in both places, of timber, covered 
with tiles. 

They took formal possession of the presidio on the 17th 
of September, feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis, patron 
of the presidio and harbor. Fr. Palou sang mass, 
blessed and erected a cross, and sang the ''TeDeum," 
while the officers took possession of the place in the name 
of the monarch amidst the firing of cannon and musketry. 

The taking formal possession of the mission was de- 
layed to await orders from Commandant Eivera. Mean- 
while the officers determined to explore the country 
around the bay and the river which empties into it. 
They fixed on a place of meeting. The captain of the 
packet "Quiros," with his pilot, Canizares and Fr. Benito 
Cambon, went with a barge to treat and become acquain- 
ted with the neighbouring Indians. They sailed north 
until a point was reached where the land expedition was 
expected. • 

On the same day the officer of the presidio, with a 
sufficient number of soldiers, proceeded to the south 
along the great bay till they reached the end of it. Here 
they were obliged to ford a river, to which they gave the 
name '* Our Lady of Guadaloupe," and found themselves 
at the other side of the bay; instead of proceeding north- 
ward till they reached a point directly opposite the one 
whence they started, they followed a canon, hoping thus to 
sooner join the barge party; but this was contrary to their 
expectations, for travelling with the canada they came 
out on a large plain, far from the bay, and finding it im- 
possible to meet their companions, they determined to 
follow the plain, where they found five rivers, all of 
which emptied into the bay. 

They pursued their way along a great avenue of trees, 
and were stopped by a large river which they feared to 



100 

cross, and thej followed its course upwards, meeting many 
large ranclierias of Indians, some of whom accompanied 
tliem, and pointed out the only place where the river was 
fordable. They observed that the Indians dwelt only 
near the banks of the river, their chief sustenance being 
fish and venison. Thousands of deer found pasturage on 
the plains. 

The captain seeing that the time appointed for meeting 
the barge had already passed, resolved to return by the 
same route. Those who went by water having been 
detained by the non-arrival of their co-laborers, com- 
menced a survey of the coast, and went as far as the 
mouth of the river which empties into the bay. Moraga 
in entering the rivers went as far as Suisun bay after cross- 
ing the San Joaquin, he found that the country was too 
extensive for his limited time, he .observed here and there 
many little landings, and convinced himself after survey- 
ing the whole bay that it had no other communication 
with the Pacific than through the narrow channel or 
opening at present called Golden Gate. 

Having finished their explorations they returned to the 
point of starting, and both officers sent reports of their 
survey to the Viceroy. Meanwhile, seeing that time for 
the packet to return to San Bias had arrived, and that 
orders to found the mission were not forthcoming, they 
determined to begin the establishment themselves. This 
was done, according to Palou, on October 9th. Some 
are inclined to believe that the mission was commenced 
on the 4th of the same month, it being the day on which 
the church celebrates the feast of St. Francis of Assisium, 
patron of the mission; but we are inclined to adhere to 
the authority of Fr. Palou rather than any other, suppos- 
ing as it is probable, that on the 4th of October the land 
and water explorers had not returned, or that it was 
deemed prudent to wait a few days longer for orders from 
Captain Eivera; which reasons were sufficient to account 



101 



for delaying the foundation, even though the feast of St. 
Francis would have suggested the idea of chosing the 4th 
of the month. At all events, we read in the life of Fr. 
Junipero Serra by the best authority— Fr. Palou— that 
the mission was established on the 9th of October and 
not on the 4th. Moreover the 9th being in the Octave of 
the Saint, was celebrated by the Franciscans with nearly 
the same solemnity as the feast itself. May we not sup- 
pose, that the Father seeing the mission was not estab- 
lished on the feast, would urge the officers to take the 
necessary steps within the octave of the festival. It is 
easy to suggest that there is a typographical error in the 
date, but if so, we can say the same of any other date 
given by Palou; if we accept his statement as correct on 
one page, we must proceed on the same theory through- 
out, unless there are very strong proofs of error. ''After 
blessmg the place, says Fr. Palou, erecting the holy 
cross, and forming a procession, at the head of which the 
image of our Fr. St. Francis was carried in triumph and 
then placed upon the altar; I sang the first mass and 
preached a sermon, regarding our holy Father as patron 
ol the mission; officers, marines, sailors, soldiers and 
settlers from the presidio and mission assisted at the 
ceremonies, which were accompanied by a salute from 
numerous guns." 

None of the Indians, says Palou, witnessed this 
solemnity, as in the middle of the previous month of 
August some left the peninsula and sailed to the deserted 
islands within the bay, whilst many crossed to the other 
side. Their departure was owing to a sudden attack made 
upon them by a tribe called Salsona, their mortal enemies 
who, says Palou, live about six leagues distant to the 
south-east, near th^ arm of the sea; they burned their 
huts and killed a portion of the inmates and then retired- 
the soldiers were not able to arrive in time to prevent 
these depredations. 



102 

On this account conversions were retarded, the Indians 
not returning to the mission till March, 1777. The first 
baptisms were administered in June of that year. At the 
death of Fr. Junipero, nine years later, there were in that 
place three hundred and ninety-four Christians. 

The natives around the mission were of a darker color, 
and more robust, than those from the other side of the 
bay. When any of their relatives would die, the men and 
women would cut their hair, and in their distress cover 
their heads and other portions of their body with ashes, 
as a token of sorrow — a practice observed in several parts 
of California. However, those on the south side did not 
cut their hair short; on the contrary, men and women, it 
appeared, had vanity enough to let it grow to considerable 
length, and when well combed they formed it into braids, 
and with this material the men manufactured a kind of 
turban, which they adorned with beads and trinkets. 

Fr. Palou assures us that from San Diego to San Fran- 
cisco, a distance of over two hundied leagues, they found 
not a single trace of idolatry, but only a negative infi- 
delity. He observed, however, a few superstitious prac- 
tices, especially among the old people, some of whom 
pretended to have the power to bring rain, or to produce 
good crops of corn. But such claims were not success- 
fully imposed upon even these untutored aborigines. 

When any of the Indians of the north fell sick, they 
imagined it was owing to the evil influence of an enemy, 
and would burn their dead; while those of the south, 
especially along the channel of Santa Barbara, were pos- 
sessed of well-enclosed cemeteries, and always buried 
their dead. 

The natives around the bay subsisted on seeds and field 
grass; it was the duty of the women 'to gather them when 
ripe, to pound them and make "atole," and with a kind 
of black seed they made a food similar to tomales, and 
shaped like an orange, and which was delicious, and 



103 



tasted like roasted almonds. Tliey also caught fisli in 
abundance, all along the bay; gathered mussels, and 
hunted deer, rabbits, ducks, quails, and other game. 
Occasionally a whale would appear on the shore, and that 
was always an occasion of great rejoicing, as was also the 
capture of a sea-lion or walrus. They would slice and 
roast them underground; then hang them from a tree, and 
whenever hunger called they would help themselves until 
satiated. Along the canons they gathered hazel-nuts, and 
on the sand-hills wild strawberries, during May and June. 
On the plains and hills abounded a kind of wild onion, 
which they also roasted underground, and called ''amole." 
Fr. Palou, who often tasted it, pronounced it sweet and 
of as good flavor as ordinary preserves. There was an- 
other kind of -amole," of a saponaceous nature, similar 
to our.castile soap; however, as Fr. Palou says, the poor 
Indians had very little use for it, as the men wore no other 
garments than those of Adam before the fall. To pre- 
serve themselves from the cold, which is felt here all the 
year round, especially in the morning, they used to daub 
themselves with mud, and as the day advanced, and the 
atmosphere became warmer, the coating was washed off. 
The women wore a kind of apron, made of skins, which 
reached just above the knees, and another, which they 
threw over their shoulders, to protect them from the cold. 
Their marriage ceremonies consisted in a mutual consent 
to abide together, till some disagreement occurred, when 
they would separate, and join with another. The children 
regularly followed the mother. They had no other form- 
ality of divorce than to say : "I put her out." However, 
Fr. Palou assures us that many had lived united to a good 
old age, loving their children tenderly. 

They were very fond of their sisters-in-law, and even 
of their mothers-in-law; in fact, he who obtained a wife 
considered himself entitled to all her sisters, some having 
several wives, who, strange to say, dwelt beneath the 
same roof in harmony. Such was their miserable condi- 



104 

tion regarding marriage. But the influence of our holy 
religion was soon felt among them. A short time after 
the foundation of the mission, a man presented himself 
for conversion; he had four wives — three sisters and his 
mother-in-law — and at Fr. Palou's advice he left all except 
the first wife, and his example was followed by so many, 
that in a short time no one had more than one wife. Soon 
they became attached to the mission, and the missionaries 
provided for their support. 

In the month of September, 1776, Avhile at San Diego, 
Commander Eivera received a letter from the Viceroy, in 
which his Excellency intimated that the Missions of San 
Francisco and Santa Clara had already been established, 
when, in fact, nothing of the kind had been done; but, 
on the contrary, Rivera had retained with him the twelve 
soldiers designed for those missions. Concluding that 
something must be done, he started at once for Monterey, 
where he learned that, without his co-operation, the Mis- 
sion of San Francisco had already been established. He 
accordingly proceeded to found that of Santa Clara. After 
crossing the plains then called San Bernardino, but now 
known as Santa Clara valley, he halted at the end of the 
bay, near a large river. The officers and Fr. Pena judged 
the place to be well adapted for a mission, and whilst 
Captain Rivera went on to visit the Presidio of San Fran- 
cisco, the missionary remained in this place. 

On the 12th of January, 1777, the soldiers and their 
families having come, Fr. Pena celebrated the holy mass, 
and established the mission. Soon the Indians began to 
call, and in May the sacrament of baptism had already 
been administered in many cases. An epidemic having 
broken out among the native children, many of them were 
baptized; so that, when Fr. Junipero died, Santa Clara 
contained six hundred and sixty-nine native christians. 

This mission had many advantages which the others 
had not. It was situated in the plains of San Bernardino, 



105 

wliich are from three to five leagues in width, and more 
tliao thirty in length. Its soil was very productive, and 
the crops of beans, corn, and other grains were abundant, 
and Fr. Palou assures us that he has eaten salmon of most 
delicious flavor, which was taken from the Guadaloupe 
river, which is not far from the mission. By means of 
irrigation they soon raised every kind of fruit. The 
Indians subsisted on acorns, oak trees abounding on 
those plains. The language used was similar to that 
spoken among the tribes near San Francisco. Traces of 
a sodomitical nature were observed here and in the other 
missions, especially along the channel of Santa Barbara; 
but the perpetrators, feeling ashamed, concealed them- 
selves. Soon every vestige of such crimes disappeared 
before the influence of our holy religion ; the poor natives, 
even before their conversion, used to say: *' Such things 
were not right." 

Fr. Junipero having returned to the San Carlos Mission 
in 1777, was most anxious to visit San Francisco and 
Santa Clara, as he had not been able to assist in their 
establishment; but he was obliged to postpone his trip 
until the arrival of the new Governor, Don Felipe Neve, 
who, on the 3d of February of that year, arrived at 
Monterey. Fr. Junipero pointed out to him how import- 
ant it was that three missions should be located along the 
channel of Santa Barbara, and to this end they wrote to 
the Viceroy to solicit the necessary authorization. Mean- 
while, Fr. Serra started for the north, and arrived at 
Santa Clara, September 28th. The next day being the 
feast of St. Michael the Arch-Angel, he sang mass, and 
preached. Proceeding northward, he reached San Fran- 
cisco on October 1st, having made a journey of fifteen 
leagues, on foot, in one day and part of a night. He sang 
mass, and preached, on the feast of his glorious founder, 
St. Francis, in presence of the troops, who had come from 
the presidio, and the new adult Christian Indians, to the 
number of seventeen; thus rejoicing the hearts of the 



106 

four missionaries. In order to recuperate from the fatigue 
of the long journey from Monterey, he remained at the 
mission till October 10th. In the meantime, he visited 
the presido, and gazing on the vast expanse of water be- 
fore him, and seeing it impossible to proceed without 
embarking, exclaimed: ''Thanks be to God! Already, 
our Father St. Francis, with the Processional Cross, has 
arrived at the terminus of California, since, in order to 
advance, it becomes necessary to embark." He alluded, 
no doubt, to the Catholic custom of carrying the cross at 
the head of all religious processions. 

At the time the Ven. President visited San Francisco, 
there were eight missions founded, but at great distances 
from each other; and this circumstance caused him to 
remark : ' ' This chain of missions is very much broken ; it is 
requisite that the line be unbroken, that it may be pleasing 
to God and man. I have already solicited the foundation 
of three others, along the channel of Santa Barbara; help 
me to pray to God for success. After our wishes have 
been gratified to this extent, we will fill other vacancies." 

Fr. Junipero's grand aim was the conversion of all the 
Indians who lived along the coast for two hundred 
leagues, and if there were several missions at reasonable 
intervals from each other, the unbelievers might, he 
thought, fall into the apostolic net, if not in one place, at 
least in another, and thus would the children of God and 
of His Holy Church increase from day to day. His mind 
being pre-occupied with these designs, he left San Fran- 
cisco for Santa Clara, where he rested two days, and then 
continued on his route to San Carlos. 

To facilitate the conversion of the Indians, his Excel- 
lency, the Viceroy, had ordered the new Governor to 
establish certain pueblos of Spanish people, whose avo- 
cations should be agriculture and cattle-raising. Neve 
having observed the extensive fertile plains south of San 
Francisco, established ' ' el pueblo de San Jose de Gua- 



107 

daloupe," distant only about three miles from Santa Clara, 
There the settlers founded a town, now the city of San 
Jos^, on the first day of November, 1777, giving them an 
''alcalde" or judge, and a few soldiers. The settlers 
were in the habit of going to Santa Clara to hear mass; 
and they soon raised fine crops of corn, wheat, and beans, 
which they sold to the soldiers, and with the profits of the 
business furnished themselves with clothing and other 
necessaries. 







CHAPTEK XVII. 

FATHER JUNIPEEO RECEIVES FROM THE HOLY SEE FACULTIES TO 

CONFIRM-HE EXERCISES HIS NEW POWERS IN MONTEREY 

AND OTHER MISSIONS-NEW GOVERNMENT-DEATH 

OF BUCARELI— DIFFICULTIES. 



When Fy. Jimipero reached Lower California in 1768, 
amongst other papers, he found those informing him that 
the Jesuits had faculties to administer the Sacrament of 
Confirmation, and thinking he ought not to deprive his 
neophytes of the benefit of that great sacrament, and 
being desirous only for their spiritual interest, he wrote 
to his Guardian, to obtain for him or some other mission- 
ary that authority. 

His Holiness Clement XIY. granted the petition on 
the 16th of July, 1774, for the term of ten years, which 
faculty duly authenticated was received by Fr. Junipero 
in Monterey, in the latter part of June, 1778. 

Having perused carefully the instructions of the Sacred 
Congregation in regard to the use of this faculty, he be- 
gan to exercise it immediately, and the next day being 
the feast of the Holy Apostles, Sts. Peter and Paul, 
having sung mass and given a suitable instruction on the 
sacrament, he confirmed some children, reserving the 
adults for a future day; he continued administering this 
sacrament till the 25th of August^ when he sailed for San 



109 

Diego, where he confirmed the neophytes and the soldiers' 
children. From thence he proceeded north administer- 
ing confirmations at all the missions, and he returned to 
Monterey on the 5th of Janiiar}^, 1779. His great humility 
caused him frequently to exclaim : "I always return 
edified at seeing how zealously they labor in the other 
missions, while we are always behind." Meanwhile, he 
continued his holy avocation of catechising and instruct- 
ing. In June of that same year, he received by the 
frigate, the news that California had been taken from the 
government of the Viceroy, and that his Royal Majesty 
had appointed Don Teodore de Croix, Captain-General 
and Commander of both Californias, who was to reside 
in the Province of Sonora. This news naturally alarmed 
Fr. Junipero, who feared that the change might retard 
his contemplated missions; however, a letter to him from 
the Captain-General de Croix (Jispelled his fears. 

From Queretaro that official wrote to Fr. Junipero: 
" The information I have received from his Excellency, 
and the contents of your letters to him, have persuaded 
me of your activity, zeal and prudence in the govern- 
ment of the missions, of your kindness towards the 
Indians, and your solicitude for their real happiness ; at 
this date I have not at my disposal the help you ask, but 
I hope I shall be able shortly to satisfy your zeal, and to 
labor with you for the welfare of these establishments, 
trusting you will enlighten me with your advice and re- 
flections. Your Eeverence will find in me all that you 
desire for the propagation of our holy faith and the glory 
of religion. I beg your prayers and those of your religious 
for the happy issue of the important things confided to 
my care." 

Queretaro, August 15th, 1777. 

This letter assuaged, in a measure, the pain Fr. Juni- 
pero had felt at the change, but he soon found that there 
is not much reliance to be placed in human promises. 



110 

Some marine officers of the frigate, then anchored in San 
Francisco bay, were desirous to see our Apostle, and they 
wrote to him, requesting him if possible to go up to San 
Francisco. The Father begged to be excused, alleging 
his inability to comply with the request, on account of a 
swollen leg. Then Commandant Orteaga sent his two 
captains, with one of the surgeons of the royal navy, 
Fr. Palou being anxious to see his superior, accompanied 
them. 

They arrived at the Mission of Santa Clara on the 11th 
of October; the very day on which Fr. Junipero arrived 
from Monterey, he had in the meantime changed his 
mind, and had resolved to go north to administer the 
sacrament of confirmation, and likewise to see the officers 
of the expedition. It is needless to say that all hearts 
rejoiced at so unexpected a meeting. Our good mission- 
ary was so much fatigued that he could no longer stand, 
having on foot, in two days, travelled twenty-seven 
leagues. When the surgeon saw' his swollen leg, and 
sore foot, he declared that the accomplishment of the 
journey under such circumstances was miraculous. The 
next day the surgeon attempted to apply remedies, but 
Fr. Junipero entreated him to defer all treatment till 
they reached San Francisco, where he could rest. He 
walked that day as if his limbs were perfectly sound, and 
without taking any rest, and he also administered the 
sacrament of baptism to some adults, inviting the officers 
to act as sponsors. The ceremonies were very long, and 
sufficient to fatigue the most robust, and, in fact, the 
officers became wearied and expressed their astonishment 
at seeing our worthy missionary go through so much 
^^ ithout any apparent inconvenience. They were highly 
edified by his devotion; and after remaining two days at 
Santa Clara they left for San Francisco. Before departing 
the officers tendered their congratulations and expressions 
of esteem to Fr. Junipero, who said, ''I thank you 
gentlemen, and I shall endeavor to correspond to your 



Ill 

good wishes, I shall confirm those of your crew who 
have not yet received the sacrament of confirmation." 
Accordingly, on the 21st of October, after singing high 
mass and making a suitable and fervent exhortation to 
those who were awaiting the reception of the sacrament, 
he confirmed the neophytes, soldiers and sailors who had 
not passed through the ceremony, and administered the 
sacrament during three days. 

Pihe surgeons again urged Fr. Junipero to allow them 
to'lreat his deseased limb, but he excused himself, saying 
he felt better, and that as the wound was very old, it 
would take too long to heal it, and that he would leave 
its care to his heavenly physician. 

Nine days after the arrival of Fr. Junipero, the news of 
the death of the Viceroy Bucareli came, and also that 
war had been declared between Spain and England, which 
obliged the vessels to set sail at once for San Bias. 

Fr. Junipero Serra felt the death of his benefactor and 
patron very keenly; however, trusting in God, he started 
for Monterey on the 6th of November, leaving there and 
in Santa Clara all the adults who were preparing for con- 
firmation. 

It was not without reason that Fr. Junipero dreaded 
the change in the government of the missions, and he 
daily lamented the death of the zealous Viceroy, who had 
so earnestly labored for their welfare. 

Scarcely was the province of California separated from 
the jurisdiction of the Viceroy, than Fr. Junipero en- 
countered obstacles and difficulties without number; he 
observed plans and regulations that were injurious to the 
welfare of the missions, he protested and explainQ.d him- 
self, but it availed naught; the civil authorities were 
prepared to dictate, not only to soldiers, but also to the 
missionaries how the faith should be propagated. Fr. 
Palou tells us that he could narrate hundreds of these 
difficulties, but would mention only the prohibition to 



112 

administer confirmation, with the very plausible excuse 
that the President in his faculty had not received the 
sanction of the Government authorities, though in reality 
it had been submitted to, and received the approval of 
the Eoyal Council to enforce it, with the suggestion that 
it should be enforced. Fr. Junipero remarked that for a 
year he had exercised this power, and the Captain-General 
had not objected. He presented his faculties to have 
them signed and approved by the officer, but DeCroix de- 
clined doing so, saying that the original must be pre- 
sented. He also suggested that the President should not 
confirm till further orders. Fr. Junipero in his prudence 
abstained from exercising his faculty, fearing that should 
he administer the sacrament of confirmation contrary to 
the wish of the Governor, he might also be forbidden to 
baptize. He wrote to his Guardian in reference to his 
difficulty, who at once presented himself to the new Vice- 
roy, asking a copy of the act enforcing the brief of the 
Pope, and the sanction for Fr. Junipero of the authorities 
of Mexico. The Viceroy wrote to the Governor not to 
interfere with Fr. Junipero, and to supply him with 
soldiers any time he wished to visit the missions. Whilst 
awaiting this decision Fr. Junipero occupied himself in 
catechising his neophytes. In September, 1781, the de- 
cision in his favor arrived, and having administered con- 
firmation in San Carlos and in San Antonio, accompanied 
by Fr. Crespi, he went to San Francisco, to the great 
joy of Fr. Palou, who was now able to entertain his be- 
loved President and his old confrere Fr. Crespi, who had 
not been in San Francisco since 1769, when none but 
roaming Indians were to be seen along the shores of the 
bay. 

Here they remained till November 9th, and truly sad 
was the farewell of Fr. Crespi and Fr. Palou — a long 
farewell, since they were not to meet on earth. Infact, a 
few days after their return to San Carlos, Fr. Crespi was 
taken sick, and having received the last sacraments from 



113 

the hands of Fr. Junipero, he died the death of the just, 
on the 10th day of January, 1782, being sixty years of 
age, and having labored thirty of these amongst the 
natives, sixteen among the Fames Indians, and the rest 
in California. 

He was buried in the church of the mission, on the 
gospel side of the sanctuary, amidst the tears and 
bitter lamentations of the neophytes, among whom he 
had labored with such great zeal. Fr. Junipero appre- 
ciated him so highly, and so deep was his affection, that 
when dying, his last request was that he might be buried 
near Fr. Crespi. 

Fr. Crespi kept a journal of his land and water explora- 
tions which is well deserving of perusal by those in- 
terested in the discovery of California, and the explora- 
tion of the Pacific .Coast, as far north as the 55th degree of 
latitude. 




CHAPTEE XYIII. 

ESTABLISHMENT IN THE CHANNEL OF SANTA BARBARA-FOUNDATION 

OF SAN BUENAVENTURA-SAD OCCURENCE IN 

THE RIO COLORADO. 



The letter of the Viceroy had such an effect on the 
Commander-General, De Croix, that even befoi'e he 
arrived at his destination he wrote to the Governor to 
send Captain Rivera to the ''Aripes" to recruit seventy- 
five soldiers for the'establishment of a presidio and three 
missions in the channel of Santa Barbara. One towards 
the north of the channel which was to be dedicated to 
the Immaculate Conception; one towards the south, dedi- 
cated to San Buenaventura, and a third in the centre, 
dedicated to Santa Barbara. 

He purposed leaving fifteen soldiers at each mission, 
the remainder at the Presidio of Santa Barbara; more- 
over, he gave orders that families of Pobladores should 
accompany the missionaries for the purpose of establish- 
ing a town, to be known as "Pueblo de Nuestra Senora 
de los Angeles," near the river Portiuncula. At the same 
time he requested the religious of the College of Santa 
Cruz of Queretaro to found two missions on the Colorado 
river, to labor for the conversion of the natiA^es, and to 
facilitate communication with California. These missions 



115 

were founded on quite a different plan from that observed 
in California. They were without presidios, each having 
only eight soldiers and some settlers with their families; 
the missionaries w^ere coipapelled to attend only to the 
spiritual welfare of the neophytes, who supported them- 
selves as they had done before conversion. 

Events soon proved how erroneous was this new 
method for the officers, soldiers and settlers were killed, 
and their wives and children retained as captives by the 
savages; the missionaries also were murdered, and al 
their stores burnt. 

Captain Kivera having received orders from his 
superiors, began to recruit in Sinaloa, sending the 
recruits and settlers by sea to Loreto, from whence they 
were obliged to travel by land to San Diego Those 
whom he recruited in Sonora went with him along the 
Colorado river, taking more than a thousand head of 
horses and mules. Arriving at the Colorado, he found 
the two missions already established ; perceiving that the 
animals were lean and sickly, and fearing they could not 
stand the journey of eighty leagues which lay between 
them and San Gabriel, he resolved to remain on the 
banks of the river until the stock should recover from 
this fatigue. He, together with a sergeant and six 
soldiers, belonging to the Presidio of Monterey, remained 
there, while under his direction the officers and soldiers, 
who had come from Sonora, under escort of an ensign 
and nine veterans from a presidio in Sonora went for- 
ward. 

The Governor had already arrived in San Gabriel, and 
there he received the troops which had come from Lower 
California, and the detachment which arrived by way of 
the Eio Colorado. As the Governor expected none but 
Captain Kivera with the stud of horses, he dismissed the 
ensign and his nine veterans, who returned to Sonora by 
the same route followed in coming. They were told by 



116 

Indians whom they encountered on the way, that the two 
missions at Eio Colorado had been destroyed, and all the 
inmates killed by the savages; but this narrative was not 
believed until they reached the place, when they found a 
heap of ashes where the buildings had stood, and the 
bodies of the murdered priests and soldiers unburied, 
and being themselves attacked by the savages, they 
thought it prudent to return to San Gabriel, which they 
did after losing two soldiers and having one wounded. 
The Governor sent the same ensign and his seven brave 
soldiers, with letters for the Captain-General via Loreto. 

This sad accident retarded the establishment of the 
missions along the channel. The Governor deemed 
it advisable to remain with his troops in San Gabriel, 
fearing an outbreak; meanwhile, he determined to lay 
the foundation of a Pueblo of Spaniards near the Kio 
Portiuncula, so called by the first expedition in 1769. 

He united all the settlers, and gave them lands along 
the river, distant about twelve miles from the Mission of 
San Gabriel, he also gave a corporal and three soldiers 
to guard them, and in this quiet way towards the end of 
the year 1781, was founded the Pueblo entitled, "Nuestra 
Seiiora de los Angeles," a pueblo which one hundred 
years later counted its inhabitants by thousands, and 
bids fair to rival the first cities of the Pacific coast. The 
settlers commenced to raise crops of beans, corn and 
wheat, and thus supported themselves and families. Fr. 
Palou informs us that the colonists were obliged to travel 
a distance of four leagues to hear mass. 

The Governor, Don Felipe Neve, arrived at Monterey 
February 3d, 1779, where he took up his abode; as a year 
and a half had passed since the assault and massacre on 
the Eio Colorado, and as no disturbance had occured in 
the interval, he determined while awaiting the ships 
coming with six missionaries recruits, that he would 
proceed to the establishment of the Missions of San 



117 

Buenaventura and Santa Barbara; and for this purpose 
he went to Fr. Junipero in February, 1783, to ask him 
for two missionaries. The President was busy with his 
neophytes, but being most anxious to see these two 
missions founded, and not having Fathers to dispose of, 
he cast his eye on Fr, Pedro Benito Cambon, who had 
lately arrived from the Phillippine Islands, in feeble 
health, and who was resting from the fatigues of his 
voyage at San Diego. He wrote, requesting him to meet 
him at San Gabriel, and leaving a missionary alone at 
Monterey, he started for San Gabriel, confirming in his 
way several christians in San Antonio and San Luis 
Obispo. As he passed along the channel of Santa Bar- 
bara, he rejoiced as he thought that soon the light of 
faith would illumine the numerous tribes living along its 
shores. Whenever he met the uncivilized objects of his 
attentions, he treated them with kindness and led them to 
believe that missionaries would at an early date come to 
live with them. Late on the 18th of March he arrived at 
Los Angeles, where he passed the night, and early the 
next morning he started for the Mission of San Gabriel, 
which was about four leagues distant; the journey seemed 
very long to him, fatigued as he was in body, and his 
mind oppressed with care and anxiety. Here he met the 
resident missionary and Fr. Cambon, who had come up 
from San Diego. It being the feast of the Holy Patri- 
arch St. Joseph the day was celebrated with all solemnity; 
the bells rang forth a merry peal; mass was sung, and a 
sermon preached by good Fr. Junipero. 

In the afternoon he visited the Governor, who returned 
the visit next day, when it was agreed to proceed at 
once to the foundation of San Buenaventura, and thence 
to Santa Barbara. Fr. Junipero was extremely anxious 
to conduct the solemnities of holy week at San Gabriel, 
but his wishes could not be realized, for it was announced 
that on the 26th of March, Tuesday in holy week, the ex- 
pedition would start. During his stay at San Gabriel, 



118 

which was about six days, he administered the sacrament 
of confirmation to many. 

The San Buenaventura party set out after mass; it con- 
sisted of seventy soldiers, with their captain, commander 
for the new presidio, ensign, sergeants and corporals; 
also the Governor with ten soldiers of the company of 
Monterey, their wives and families, servants and neo- 
phytes. So numerous was the convoy that never had its 
equal been seen on any other similar occasion. It had 
but two priests, the president and Fr. Cambon. Fr. 
Junipero seeing such a concourse, could well say, as was 
said of the canonization of the Seraphic Doctor, ^'Quo- 
tandem tardius, eo solemnius," **the later it is, the more 
solemn it shall be." 

This expedition left San Gabriel on the 26th of March, 
took a north-easterly course towards the channel of Santa 
Barbara. 

They first halted at mid-night, when a messenger over- 
took them, bearing a letter to the Governor from Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Don Pedro Fages, who had just arrived at 
San Gabriel from the Rio Colorado. The Governor re- 
turned immediately to San Gabriel with his ten soldiers, 
leaving orders with the commanding officer to proceed, 
and in case he should not return at once, to establish the 
Mission of San Buenaventura, and to await there his 
arrival. This order was obeyed and those whom he had 
just left continued their route till the 29th, when they 
pitched their tents in a place called by the exploring 
party 69, ''Assumpta," not far from the beach, where 
they discovered a large tribe of Indians, who dwelt in 
houses well built, and of a pyramidal shape. The day 
after their arrival they erected a large cross and prepared 
an altar under a shade of evergreens, where on the last 
day of March, on the feast of Easter, the Yen. Fr. Juni- 
pero blessed the cross and the place, and sang the first 
mass, preached to the soldiers a sermon on the Resurrec- 



119 

tion of our Divine Eedeemer, and dedicated the mission 
to God under the patronage of St. Joseph. 

The Indians manifested a very friendly disposition. 
They aided the soldiers in building a frame house for the 
missionaries, a chapel and barracks, fencing in all for 
greater security. By opening a ditch they brought water 
to the mission for daily use, and afterwards for the pur- 
pose of irrigating the soil. By means of a christian 
Indian, Fr. Junipero made known to the others the object 
of their coming amongst them. He remained here fifteen 
days, but had not the consolation of baptizing any of 
them. The following year, however, he met some christ- 
ians there. 

We will leave Fr. Junipero and those who accompanied 
him to San Buenaventura for a while, and follow the 
Governor to San Gabriel, to learn some particulars of the 
horrible massacre which occured on the Rio Colorado. 
Early on the morning of the 27th of March the Governor 
made his appearance at San Gabriel, when Fag^s pre- 
sented him with the instructions of the Commanding- 
General, to go with him to the Rio Colorado to punish 
the perpetrators of these terrible crimes. Our readers 
will thank Fr. Palou for having obtained from Fages him- 
self the juridical deposition of facts as they happened. 

The nation of the Yumas inhabited the banks of the 
Rio Colorado. In the beginning their demeanor was 
peaceful, and they seemed glad to have the Fathers 
build the two missions which were there erected, one of 
which was dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, the 
other to St. Peter and St. Paul, and those were situated 
about three leagues distant from each other. Owing to 
the method of government adopted, the Fathers had 
nothing wherewith to win the Indians. It was difficult to 
bring them into subjection, coming as they did, to the 
mission only occasionally, and the Fathers were obliged 
to seek them in their rancherias; but despite these diffi- 
culties, a portion of the tribe was baptized. 



120 

Before long the unfortunate Indians perceiving that 
the cattle of the soldiers and settlers were devouring the 
grass and depriving them of the seed, by means of which 
they partially subsisted, and observing also, that the 
settlers had appropriated to themselves the few good 
spots along the banks of the river, where formerly they 
raised their crops of beans, corn, pumpkins and water- 
melons, they became so infuriated at the loss of their 
crops, and being instigated by the enemy of all good, 
who wished to destroy the missions, they determined to 
free themselves from the intruders by killing them; the 
Fathers had their fears, and consequently had for a long 
time tried to prepare all for the worst, and urged their 
congregation to receive frequently the sacraments of 
Penance and the holy Eucharist; also, to make the sta- 
tions of the cross and recite rosary, so that their town 
seemed more like a convent than a secular establish- 
ment. 

On Sunday at the conclusion of the last mass, many of 
the savage Indians simultaneously fell upon both mis- 
sions, killing the four missionaries, who died exercis- 
ing to the end their apostolic ministry, giving the ab- 
solution to the dying. They killed also the commanding 
officer, sergeant, nearly all the soldiers and settlers, 
except a few who concealed themselves; Captain Eivera 
and his soldiers fell, fighting bravely to the end. One of 
the soldiers escaping, fled to the Presidio of Sonora, 
where he reported the massacre^ and was held as a 
prisoner till facts proved that his story was alas! too true. 
The General sent Colonel Pages and some troops to the 
scene of slaughter, to deliver the captives and to arrest 
the culprits. 

They arrived at the place, found the mission in ashes, 
the slain unburied, and among them the bodies of Pr. 
Juan Diaz and Pr. Moreno; not finding the bodies of the 
other two missionaries, Pr. Prancis Garcia and Pr. Juan 
Barraneche, they supposed they had escaped, or probably 



121 

that their lives had been spared, as Fr. Francis Garcia 
was very much beloved by the Indians, having lived 
amongst them several years. Whilst burying the slain, 
they noticed a spot where grass and flowers were growing, 
while the soil on all sides was parched and dry. They com- 
menced to dig and soon found the bodies of the two mis- 
sionaries, who had been buried by an old Indian woman, 
who was much devoted to the departed. They placed 
these remains in boxes and brought them to Sonora, con- 
fiding them to the President of the Missions of Pimeria, 
an institution then attached to the College of Queretaro. 

Colonel Fages was told that for several nights after the 
destruction of the mission, a procession of persons 
clothed in white, bearing torches and preceded by a 
cross, was seen going around the site of the mission ; this 
so terrified the savages, that they fled to the delight of 
the poor captives. 

Fages following the course of the river, found the 
Yumas intrenched in the woods. He ransomed the cap- 
tives, (purchasing them with clothes) and finding that it 
was impossible just then to punish anyone, he returned 
to Sonora to report. 

The Commander-General gave him new orders to return 
to chastise the Yumas, and to secure the success of his 
enterprise, to go over to California with letters to the 
Governor, ordering him to go with all the troops he could 
spare to the Bio Colorado to aid Fages in punishing the 
ring leaders. 

The Governor deemed it advisable to wait till Septem- 
ber for the execution of these orders. Fages having 
ordered his soldiers who had remained on the banks of 
the river to withdraw, returned to San Gabriel to wait 
till September, when in company with the Governor and 
his troops, they set out for the Kio Colorado. But they 
destroyed but a few of the Yumas, and the road to Cali- 
fornia remained obstructed, and the Indians unsubdued. 



122 

The General and Governor were at length convinced that 
their method of subjugating the natives was inadequate, 
very expensive and produced no good results. 

The Governor returned to the newly established Mission 
of San Buenaventura in April, saw that the Fathers were 
following the same old method as in the other missions, 
but said nothing. He soon set out again, and continued 
on his route till he reached the middle of the channel, 
some thirty miles north of San Buenaventura. Here he 
found a suitable place for a presidio near the beach, 
and in a place where the Indians were very numerous; at 
this point he ordered a cross to be erected, and Fr. Juni- 
pero said mass; the next day they commenced the erection 
of the most essential buildings, viz., chapel, store-house 
and barracks for the soldiers. Fr. Junipero remained 
here for a time, but learning that the mission would not 
be founded as yet, he resolved to go to Monterey, to wait 
for the missionaries, wliom he expected to arrive on the 
ships which were expected. Meanwhile, in order that so 
many people should not be deprived of the holy mass, he 
sent one of the Fathers from San Juan Capistrano to 
minister to their spiritual wants, and he arrived at Mon- 
terey about the middle of June, to find that the vessel 
had reached that port on the 2nd of that month, bringing 
a letter but no missionaries. 



CHAPTEK XIX. 

LAST VISIT OF FR. JUNIPERO TO THE MISSIONS NORTH AND SOUTH 
OF MONTEREY. 



As the new Viceroy, De Croix, had asked the Father 
Guardian for six missionaries for Upper California, and 
as six Franciscans wrote and offered to come themselves, 
Fr. Junipero supposed they would arrive by the ship 
which usually brought them provisions, but that vessel 
bore only a letter from his Father Guardian. And thus 
all his hopes of further religious progress were frustrated. 
It seems that when the new missionaries were in readi- 
ness to set out, they presented themselves to his Excel- 
lency to obtain from him the usual supply of church 
ornaments and agricultural implements. His Excellency 
replied that the agricultural implements were not neces- 
sary in the opinion of the General-Commander and 
Governor. The missionaries prudently investigated the 
motives which had lead to this refusal, and they learned 
that the three new missions had to be established on a 
different plan, similar to those on the Rio Colorado; so 
they resolved not to go to California, naturally concludiDg 
that the arrangement or design would eventually prove to 
be a failure. The Indians, being stupid and wholly car- 
nal, were attracted to the mission first through an eager 
desire for food and clothing, and afterwards, though 
slowly, by higher motives; hence, if obliged to provide 



124 

for themselves, as they had clone before conversion, they 
would never become attached to the mission, but would 
fall off, and remain unbaptized. 

This news, communicated by the Guardian to Fr. Juni- 
pero, afflicted him so much that we can safely assert it 
accelerated his death. However, he resigned himself to 
the will of God and his Prelate. The latter ordered him 
to suspend the foundation of other missions, but as Fr. 
Junipero had already established San Buenaventura, 
under the supposition that missionaries were coming, he 
began to deliberate whether or not he should recall the 
priest whom he had placed there; and being unable to 
determine the best course, he summoned the nearest mis- 
sionaries, including those of Monterey, to a conference. 
There were at this meeting seven priests, and, after hold- 
ing a consultation, they decided that the will of the 
Guardian could not have reference to the missions already 
in existence, but to those in contemplation. Fr. Junipero, 
in accordance with their decision, named the missionary 
who usually supplied his place when absent to go to 
San Buenaventura, as he was unable to leave his post. 
Meanwhile, he wrote to the Father Guardian, requesting 
him to send at least two missionaries to supply places, in 
case of sickness or death of those on actual duty. 

Our Lord, Avho ever consoles the humble, sent him so 
many Indians asking for baptism, that entire rancherias 
presented themselves for instruction. His constant prayer 
was that the Lord would send laborers to His vineyard. 
As soon as the Father Guardian received our Apostle's 
letter, he approved of the establishment of the Mission 
of San Buenaventura, and sent two missionaries, who 
arrived at San Francisco, June 2d, 1783. From where, after 
resting a few days, they set out for Carmelo. There they 
found their Yen. President, sick from his running humor 
and from oppression of the chest. Fr. Palou tells us he 
suffered from this trouble of the chest from the time of his 
entry into the monastery, although he never complained, 



125 

and when some of liis religious advised him to apply some 
remedy, he used to say: "Let us leave it as it is; we 
might lose all." It is thus his life passes. He could have 
said with St. Agatha: ''I have never applied any human 
remedies to my body." The same Fr. Palou gives us his 
opinion relative to the cause of this oppression. He says 
that Fr. Junipero, when giving missions, used to imitate 
St. Francis Solano, and scourge himself before the people 
with an iron chain, and whilst reciting aloud the act of 
contrition, he would strike his breast with a stone with 
such force that people were astonished that he did not 
break it. Sometimes, when endeavoring to describe the 
torments of a damned soul, in order to make a forcible 
impression upon his audience, he would take a lighted 
torch, and, laying bare his breast, would burn his flesh 
with it. The people were frequently moved to tears; 
whilst he would descend from the pulpit, apparently well 
and sound, and looking as though public penance did him 
no injury. 

He was undergoing one of his most severe attacks when 
the last two missionaries arrived. Doubtless, the disap- 
pointment of not receiving help, and the delay in the 
foundation of other missions, increased the acuteness of 
the disease. 

While still suffering intensely, and fit only to be in bed 
or confined to his room, the sight of the two missionaries 
revived him, and re-animated him with new courage. He 
left one of them, Fr. Diego Noboa, at Monterey, and with 
the other, Fr. Juan Eiobo, started for San Diego, to ad- 
minister the sacrament of confirmation, as the term of his 
faculty had nearly come. 

The vessel left San Diego in August, and the oppression 
of his chest increased daily; so much so that all believed 
it impossible for him to attempt the voyage, and no one 
for an instant harbored the thought that he would be able 
to return by land and on foot. Fr. Junipero himself so 



126 

believed, for, writing to Fr. Palou before embarking, lie 
communicated to him his last wishes, and finished his 
letter in these terms: "I say all this, since mj return will 
be only by letter. I feel so oppressed; pray for me." 
His zeal far surpassed his physical strength, and knowing 
that in July of the next year his faculty to administer 
confirmation would expire, he determined to make a last 
sacrifice, and visit for the last time all the missions, and 
confirm the neophytes. 

He arrived at San Diego in September, his physical 
condition not improved. But this was only a new incen- 
tive to commence his apostolic labors at once. He admin- 
istered confirmation, and immediately commenced a 
journey on foot of one hundred and sixty leagues to 
Monterey, allowing himself but a few days for rest at 
every mission. At San Gabriel his maladies increased, 
and all looked upon his death as inevitable. 

The little Indian boy who served his mass, with tears 
in his eyes, used to say to the resident missionary: " The 
holy old Father wishes to die." The hearts of all were 
saddened at seeing him set out for San Buenaventura, as 
they feared he would not survive the journey; but Divine 
Providence aided and consoled him, and he had the satis- 
faction of administering confirmation to christians where 
the year before he found only heathens. 

He traversed the channel of Santa Barbara, passing 
through many Indian pueblos, and, on seeing such vast 
multitudes of untutored people, he shed bitter tears, 
and cried aloud : ''Pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the 
harvest, that He send laborers into His vineyard." 
(Matthew, 9th ch., 38th verse.) Beyond doubt, this sad 
spectacle, and the want of missionaries, shortened his 
days. The good missionarj^ full of merit, after confirm- 
ing in Santa Clara and San Antonio, proceeded to San 
Carlos, and reached that place January, 1784, and, 
although in his seventieth year, he came not to rest, but 



127 

to labor; he at once applied himself to catechizing his 
beloved neophytes. There he celebrated Holy Week, and 
after Easter set out for Santa Clara and San Francisco, to 
administer confirmation. He blessed the new church at 
Santa Clara, and on the fourth of May arrived at San 
Francisco. Fr. Palou embraced his beloved Prelate most 
tenderly, for he had feared that they would meet no more 
on earth. He enjoyed the anticipated pleasure of his 
company for a few days. But the joys of this world are 
ever transient. 

Two days later, Fr. Palou was summoned to Santa 
Clara, where one of the missionaries was dangerously ill; 
he arrived in season to administer to him the last conso- 
lations of our Holy Keligion, and received his last sigh 
on the 11th of that month. Fr. Antonio Murguia spent 
thirty-six years of his life in the conversion of the natives, 
twenty among the Pames, five in Lower California, and 
the remainder here, leaving more than six hundred chris- 
tian Indians whom he had baptized. He had just com- 
pleted a large church, still standing, which Fr. Junipero 
pronounced to be the best he had seen in California. Fr. 
Antonio was not only the architect and superintendent, 
but also a common laborer, teaching the Indians how to 
work. His intentions were that Fr. Junipero should bless 
it on the 16th of May; but God called him hence ere his 
designs could be accomplished. Fr. Palou and Fr. Juni- 
pero were greatly attached to this fervent missionary; but 
the latter had not the consolation of assisting him in his 
last moments, as he was unable to reach Santa Clara be- 
fore the 15th of May. He was accompanied by the Gov- 
-ernor. That same evening the church was solemnly 
blessed according to the Eoman Ritual, and the next day 
being Sunday, Fr. Junipero sang mass, preached, and 
confirmed. 

As Fr. Palou was preparing to set out for San Francisco, 
his superior requested him to remain a little longer, and 



128 

after having made the spiritual exercises of a retreat, for 
a few days, he with great contrition made a general con- 
fession of his whole life to Fr. Palou, who was greatly- 
moved, more especially when he reflected that he would 
probably never again see his friend and President. How- 
ever, God granted him the favor of assisting at the death 
of his beloved Father and superior. 

Fr. Junipero employed the few remaining days of his 
stay in Santa Clara in baptizing and confirming his flock, 
going even to their houses when necessary, to administer 
the sacrament. 

On his arrival at San Carlos, he sent his assistant, Fr. 
Noboa, to take the place of the good Fr. Murguria, and 
having done this, he continued to confirm applicants 
till the 16th of July, the day on which his faculties 
expired; and then, seeing that five thousand three hun- 
dred and seven souls had been confirmed, and that he 
could no longer confer the benefits of that sacrament, 
he said with St. Paul: *'I have finished my course. I 
have kept the faith." That same day a government vessel, 
with provisions, arrived at San Francisco, bringing letters 
to Fr. Junipero from his Guardian, but no missionaries, 
as the College of Santa Cruz had then but few members. 
On reading this sad news, he saw his own death warrant. 
He immediately wrote to the distant missions, bidding 
the Fathers a last farewell, and requested those of San 
Antonio and San Luis Obispo to come up to visit him for 
the last time. He wrote to Fr. Palou, asking him also to 
come. 



OHAPTEK XX. 

EXEMPLARY DEATH AND IMPOSING FUNERAL OF THE YEN. FATHER 
JUNIPERO SERRA — HIS VIRTUES. 



Although the Yen. President had not requested Fr. 
Palou's immediate presence, nevertheless he resolved to 
go, and finding that the boat was not to sail for some 
time, he started on foot, reaching the Mission of San 
Carlos, August 18th, to find his beloved Prelate very 
weak, though still able to walk every afternoon to the 
church, to teach catechism, to pray with his neophytes, 
and sing with them some verses in honor of the Assump- 
tion of the Blessed Virgin, as the church was then cele- 
brating the octave of that feast. 

Fr. Palou, hearing Fr. Junipero's voice, and recognizing 
it as natural, said to a soldier nearby: '* It does not seem 
as if our Ven. President were very sick." But the soldier, 
who had known Fr. Junipero since 1769, answered: 
*' Father, we cannot rely upon such a supposition. This 
Holy Father is indeed unwell; but when there is praying 
and singing to be done, he always appears well, although 
he may be nearly dead." 

Next day, Fr. Junipero requested Fr. Palou to sing 
mass in honor of St. Joseph, as he himself had been 
accustomed to do on the nineteenth of each month; and 
going to the choir, Fr. Junipero sang the responses, after 
which he recited aloud seven '^ Our Fathers" and seven 
** Hail Mary's" in honor of the great Patriarch, and in 



130 

the afternoon he sang as usual in honor of the Blessed 
Virgin Mary. 

The next Friday, he made the ' ' Holy Way of the 
Cross," and afterwards treated of certain business apper- 
taining to the missions. Fr. Palou found him pensive, in 
which state he always lived, especially since the expira- 
tion of his faculty for confirmation. 

Five days after Fr. Palou's arrival, the packet-boat 
anchored in the harbor, and the royal surgeon hastened 
to Carmelo, to offer his services. He prescribed some 
burning applications, to which our Yen. Father replied: 
"Use as many of these remedies as you please." Not a 
murmur escaped his lips, though his sufferings were 
intense. He continued going about on foot, even distrib- 
uting with his own hands food and clothes to the poor, 
naked Indians. On the 25th he expressed regret that the 
Fathers of San Antonio and San Luis Obispo had not yet 
arrived; he feared his letters had not reached them, 
which was really the case, they having been forgotten at 
the Presidio of Monterey. Fr. Palou, without delay, dis- 
patched a courier to these Fathers, and requested them 
to come immediately, if they wished to see their beloved 
alive; but, though no time was lost, the good Father of 
San Antonio arrived only for the funeral, and the Father 
from San Luis on the seventh day, for the Eequiem Mass. 

On the 26th, Fr. Junipero arose, weaker than usual, 
and said he had passed a bad night, and wished to be 
prepared for the worst. All day he was buried in the 
contemplation of God, admitting of no distractions; at 
night, he repeated in tears his general confession, after 
which he partook of a little broth, then requested to be 
left alone. 

The next day, very early, Fr. Palou found him reciting 
matins, as he was accustomed to do every morning, even 
while traveling. Being asked how he felt, he responded 
that he was well. "However," said he, "consecrate a 



131 

host, and reserve it." After mass, Fr. Palou again visited 
the dying saint, who said : * ' I wish to receive the Holy 
Viaticum, but I will go to the church." Fr. Palou tried 
to persuade him to the contrary, assuring him that his 
cell could be prepared for the occasion; the saintly Father 
replied: ''No; as long as I can walk to the church, there 
is no reason why our Lord should be brought to me." 
Fr. Palou was obliged to yield. Unassisted, Fr. Junipero 
proceeded to church, which was about three hundred feet 
distant from his room; he was accompanied by the officer 
of the presidio, the soldiers and Indians all deeply moved, 
and many bathed in tears. 

On reaching the sanctuary, he knelt before a little table 
prepared for the occasion. Fr. Palou repaired to the 
sacristy, to vest and prepare for the administration of the 
Holy Yiaticum. Upon emanating from this place, and 
when about to incense the Most Holy Sacrament, to his 
great astonishment he heard Fr. Junipero, whose voice 
resounded as clear and sonorous as when in perfect 
health, repeating the " Tantum Ergo Sacramentum," 
whilst tears bedewed his cheeks. The Yiaticum was then 
administered to him, with all the ceremonies of the Kitual; 
after which our saintly Father remained kneeling, ab- 
sorbed in God. Thanksgiving being concluded, he re- 
turned to his room, accompanied by his sorrowing chil- 
dren, some of whom shed tears of devotion, others tears 
of sorrow, knowing that they were soon to be deprived of 
a Father who so tenderly loved them. Alone in his room, 
he remained wholly wrapt in God. 

Shortly afterwards, Fr. Palou, observing the carpenter 
of the presidio coming towards the room of the Father, 
asked him what he wanted ; he replied that Fr. Junipero 
had requested him to make his coffin, and he wished to 
know how he would like to have it made. Fr. Palou then 
told the carpenter to make one similar to that which he 
had made for^Fr. Crespi. 



132 

Our Ven. Father spent the entire clay seated in his 
chair, in profound silence, taking no other nourishment 
than a little broth. At night he felt much worse, and 
asked for Extreme Unction, which he received seated in 
his chair, reciting with those present the Litany of the 
Saints and the Seven Penitential Psalms. He slept none, 
but spent the greater part of the night on his knees, or 
resting on the boards of his bed. When urged to lie 
down, he said he felt easier as he was. A portion of the 
night he passed seated on the floor, supported by some 
of his devoted children, with whom his room was thronged 
all night. They were induced to be present by the great 
love they bore their spiritual father. The surgeon, having 
been interrogated as to his condition, replied that he 
seemed to suffer much from prostration, but that the 
blessed Father wished to die on the ground. 

Fr. Palou asked the dying saint if he desired the Ple- 
nary Indulgence, and having assented, he knelt, and with 
much fervor and consolation received this last great bless- 
ing of our Holy Keligion, according to the Eitual of the 
Franciscan Order. 

The next day, August 28th, he appeared to be much 
exhausted. The morning he spent seated in his chair, 
near his bed, which latter consisted of but hard, rough 
boards, covered with a blanket, which served the purpose 
rather as a coverlet. Even when traveling, Fr. Junipero 
used to lie on the bare ground, using his blanket as a 
pillow, embracing a large cross, which he brought from 
the College of San Fernando, and which he always carried 
with him. When not in bed, he placed the cross rever- 
ently on his pillow, and so spent his last night, refusing 
to go to bed. 

At about ten o'clock, the officers of the frigate, with 
Captain Canizares, whom he had known since 1769, and 
the Chaplain, Diaz, came to visit the good Father, who 
received them most kindly, rising from his chair to em- 



133 

brace them, and ordered the bells to be rung. Having 
taken their seats, they narrated many incidents of iheir 
voyage, and the notable events which had transpired since 
they had last seen him, in '69. After listening to them 
for a time, he said: '^1 thank you, gentlemen, for coming 
so great a distance, and after so long a time, to throw a 
handful of earth over my poor body." Hearing him speak 
thus, those present were astonished at his answering so 
well; and, concealing their tears, the officers said: 
''Father, we trust in God that you will recover, and con- 
tinue your spiritual conquest." The dying saint, who 
doubted not his approaching dissolution, answered: 
'* Yes, yes; do for me this act of charity, and I shall be 
grateful to you"; then, turning towards Fr. Palou, said; 
"I desire to be buried in the church, close byFr. Crespi. 
When the stone church is built, they will throw me where 
they like." 

Fr. Palou could not answer for a time, but when his 
emotion allowed him to speak, said: "Father Presi- 
dent, if God is pleased to call you to himself, what you 
desire shall be done; I ask you my beloved Father, 
through the great love and kindness that you have ever 
borne towards me, that when you are in the presence of 
the Most Holy Trinity, you will adore it in my name, and 
do not forget me; ask God to bless all the inhabitants of 
these missions, especially those who are here present." 
" I promise," replied the Yen. Junipero, " if God in his 
infinite mercy grants me that eternal beatitude of which 
my faults render me unworthy, that I shall do so for all, 
and may it effect the conversion of many that I leave un- 
converted." Shortly afterwards he requested Fr. Palou 
to sprinkle holy water in his room, and being asked if he 
felt any uneasiness of mind, he responded in the negative, 
and having remained silent for a time, he suddenly 
exclaimed, "a great fear has come over me, I am much 
in dread, read the recommendation for the dying 
aloud, that I may hear it." *' I did so," says Palou, ''in 



134 

presence of the officers of the ship and their companions, 
Fr. Noriega, the surgeon and many others." During the 
the recital our saintly Father seated in his chair, 
responded as if in perfect health. Scarcely had Fr. Palou 
finished, when the dying man full of joy, cried out: 
"Thanks be to God! Thanks be to God! the alarm has 
entirely left me, thanks be to God, there is nothing more 
to fear, such being the case, let us all go out. Much 
surprised every one left the room; animated by this 
triumph over hell, the captain of the ship said: ''Father 
President, your reverence will see what St. Anthony can 
do, I have asked him to cure you, and I hope he will 
accede to my prayer, so that you may continue to labor 
for the welfare of the unfortunate Indians." The Yen. 
Junipero's only answer was a sweet smile, by which all 
understood that he did not expect to recover. Seating 
himself near the table, he took his diurnal and began to 
recite from it, when he had finished, Fr. Palou told him 
that it was after one o'clock, and requested him to take a 
cup of broth, which he did, and giving thanks he said, "let 
us go now to rest." He walked to his bed-room without 
assistance, took off his cloak and laid it upon his rough 
bed, and clasping his cross most reverently, seemed to be 
preparing himself for rest. Those present believed that 
he was going to sleep, as during the previous night he 
had not a single moment of rest. The officers went to 
dine; but Fr. Palou remained, and feeling uneasy, en- 
tered his friend's bed-room shortly after, and approached 
his bed, finding Fr. Serra in a position corresponding to 
that in which he had been left, but he was already sleep- 
ing in the Lord. No sign of agony was present and 
there was nothing to indicate death, save that he was 
breathless. " We piously believed, " says Palou, "that 
he slept in the Lord just before two o'clock, on the after- 
noon of the feast of St, Augustine, in the year 1784, and 
that he went to heaven to receive the reward of his 
apostolic labors." 



135 

Father Junipero Serra died at the age of seventy years, 
nine months and four days. Nearly seventeen years of 
his life were passed in the world, and nearly fifty -four in 
religion. Thirty-five of these latter he employed in the 
apostolic ministry; occupied always in furthering the 
glory of God and the salvation of souls, and as Fr. Palou 
well remarks: "because he labored so well for others, 
we must believe that he did it also for his own sanctifica- 
tion." 

As soon as Fr. Palou became satisfied that the Ven. 
President was dead he gave orders to the Indians to toll 
the bell, and when the mournful news was thus announced, 
everyone went to the room of the sainted deceased, and 
the crowd became so great, that it became necessary to 
prohibit further entrance. Clad in the same habit in 
which he died, Fr. Junipero's remains were laid in 
the coffin, ordered by himself the day before, and the 
remains were surrounded by six waxen candles. The 
doors were now thrown open, and the Indians tendered 
bouquets of wild flowers, which were deposited by the 
donors at the feet of the revered body, which remained 
at the same spot until night, constantly visited by the 
awe struck multitude. The devout touched his hands 
with rosaries, calling him "Holy Father," "blessed," 
and other names indicative of his virtue. About dusk the 
christian Indians, soldiers and sailors carried the body in 
procession to the church and placed it on a table, around 
which burned six wax candles. In compliance with the 
general demand, the door was left open all night, and 
devout groups took turns in watching and reciting rosary; 
two soldiers were put on guard, and though strict orders 
were given that no one should touch Fr. Junipero's body 
or habit, nevertheless, the next day it was found that 
several pieces of his habit had been removed, and also 
portions of his hair. On Sunday, August 29th, a solemn 
Eequiem mass was sung, at which were present the 
Captain of the packet-boat, the marine officers, the Chap- 



136 

lain, Diaz, and military. Every half-hour cannons were 
fired and the funeral bells tolled mournfully. 

Fr. Sitjar of the Mission of San Antonio reached Mon- 
terey on the morning of the funeral, and hearing there 
of the death of his beloved superior, celebrated mass, 
and immediately afterwards set out for Carmelo, together 
with the Adjutant-Inspector of both Calif ornias to repre- 
sent the Governor, who was absent. 

The church, though large, was crowded; the office for 
the dead was chanted, and Fr. Palou sang the solemn 
Eequiem mass, at which latter the officers assisted, bear- 
ing lighted tapers all the while. After mass a solemn 
dirge was chanted, and the burial was left for the after- 
noon. 

At four o'clock an impressive funeral procession was 
formed; the remains were borne on the shoulders of the 
officers, who all deemed it an honor to be permitted to 
carry the body of the holy man. The other officers and 
the soldiers and the sailors bearing lighted tapers, pre- 
ceded the coffin, lastly came the ^' Celebrant in Cope," 
accompanied by Deacon and Sub-Deacon. They moved 
slowly and solemnly around the plaza, pausing four times 
to repeat a dirge, which in Spanish is called " Posas." 

On arriving at the church, the remains were again placed 
upon the table, lauds were sung, according to the Fran- 
ciscan manual, and then the mortal remnants of the great 
Fr. Junipero Serra were laid to rest in the sanctuary at 
the gospel side. The mournful ceremony was concluded 
by a solemn dirge, but the voices of the chanters were 
drowned by the sighs and sobs of the multitude. 

The funeral over, all gathered around Fr. Palou, eager- 
ly asking for relics, and not having wherewith to satisfy 
all demands, he gave one of the under-garments of Fr. 
Janipero to the captain of the packet-boat, that scapulars 
might be made for the sailors from it, and he further sig- 
nified his intention to bless and distribute these relics on 



137 

September 5tli, the seventh day after the funeral; and on 
the appointed day he presented to the soldiers and others 
interested, portions of the Father's under-garments, and 
to the Royal Surgeon he gave one of his handkerchiefs, 
which that officer declared would cure more people than 
ordinary medical remedies, and indeed, later on the same 
pious and scientific man stated that through the handker- 
chief a poor sailor, who was suffering from a violent 
headache, had been cured by simply applying it to the 
affected part — and when this had been done the sick man 
slept, and thereafter arose perfectly sound. Fr. Antonio 
Paterna of San Luis Obispo, though he made all possible 
haste, did not arrive until three days after the death of 
his beloved prelate, and being advanced in years, having 
attained the age of sixty, and owing to the fatigue of the 
journey and the intense heat, he fell dangerously ill upon 
reaching Carmelo. Fr. Palou feared his death, and 
therefore he prepared him for the end, leaving, however, 
the administration of the Holy Yiaticum for the next day. 
He suggested to the invalid, the idea of girding himself 
with a hair cloth, belonging to Fr. Junipero, which 
he accordingly did, and the next morning found him so 
well that the last sacraments were not administered, and 
in a few days he was as well as usual. Fr .Palou in refer- 
ring to these and similar cases, is careful to inform us 
that he does not intend to declare them miraculous, but 
merely to show the very great esteem in which they all 
held Fr. Junipero. The soldiers frequently asserted that 
at whatever hour of the night the guard was changed they 
always heard him praying. 

Fr. Palou, desirous to manifest love and respect for 
his prelate, was not satisfied with having had a solemn 
funeral, but on the seventh day, he again caused mass to 
be said, at which the officers, soldiers, sailors and 
Indians assisted, as they had on the day of the funeral, 
and during these inspiring ceremonials cannons were fired 
every half -hour, as at the death of a General. After 



138 

mass he blessed the scapulars made of the tunic of Fr. 
Junipero and distributed them among the soldiers, telling 
them not to consider them as relics, but only as things 
blessed by the church, and as mementos of the virtues of 
the holy man who had worn the garment. He also distri- 
buted some medals belonging to the deceased, and the 
congregation departed satisfied. The Commanding- 
officer selected for himself the sandals of the poor Fran- 
ciscan. 

Then Fr. Palou, in sad accents, deplored the loss of 
his amiable Father, prudent prelate, and wise and exem- 
plary teacher. These and other acts of Fr. Junipero, 
says Palou, which are related in this historical sketch, 
are so glorious in themselves that we can never forget 
him, and the memory of his name shall remain not only 
among his children, but amongst all the inhabitants of 
California. 

So that if I did not fear being charged with a disciple's 
partiality towards his teacher, knowing that he, despising 
the world and its pomps, buried himself in the wilds of 
California, his mind occupied only with plans for con- 
version of the natives, I would nevertheless, not hesitate 
to apply to him what Solomon says of a wise man: ''His 
memory shall not recede, and his name shall be looked 
for from generation to generation." 

His works have made a lasting impression upon the 
inhabitants of Upper California, where he labored so 
zealously during sixteen years, leaving at his death fifteen 
settlements, six of Spaniards and nine of natives, all 
baptized by him or by his companions. The number of 
christians in Upper California when he closed his labors 
was five thousand, and if we count those of Lower Cali- 
fornia, there were seven thousand. 

In his last moments, Fr. Junipero promised to pray for 
the conversion of the misguided Indian, and Fr. Palou 
assures us that the number of converts increased so 



139 

rapidly that Fr. Mngartegui wrote from San Juan Capis- 
trano: ''During these last four months we have baptized 
more Indians than in three years previous, and we ascribe 
this great increase to the intercession of Ven. Junipero 
Serra, as they have come unsolicited to ask for baptism, 
and in numerous instances they have come from afar, 
and speak a language different from that used by the 
Indians of this mission." And the other Fathers might 
have borne testimony as to the same marvelous increase, 
for, says Palou, in the report they sent to me at the end 
of that year, I observed that in the four months following 
the death of Fr. Junipero, in the various missions, nine 
hundred and thirty-six baptisms had been registered, the 
number never before being so great. He concluded the 
eulogy of his beloved master with the words of Holy 
Writ: ''The memory of the just shall live forever." (Ps. 
iii., verse 7.) 

That Fr. Palou was not mistaken we can testify, for 
now one hundred years after the death of Fr, Junipero, 
we hear his name pronounced with love and respect, not 
alone by Catholics, but even by those of other denomina- 
tions; and we see protestant papers copying with avidity 
sketches of his life, and able pens writing in select maga- 
zines interesting accounts of his labors and the missions 
founded by him. Let us in conclusion lay on his tomb 
a bouquet of his many virtues, which will not fade as do 
those made of natural flowers, which to-day are fresh and 
to-morrow withered. 

The life of Fr. Junipero Serra, resembles one of 
California's lovely fields in spring-time, adorned with 
variegated attractions. The virtue which shone most 
conspiculously in him was profound humility; though a 
great preacher, he never referred to his sermons, and 
always considered himself inferior to others; when made 
master of novices, he looked upon himself as a novice, 
shunned all distinction, and only through obedience 



140 

accepted the office of President of tlie missions, and 
fearing the influence of some dignitaries at Madrid, he 
forbore writing to them lest he might be compelled to 
accept other ecclesiastical dignity. He was remarkable 
for the prudence which he manifested in all his dealings, 
religious and secular, never assuming the responsibility 
in difficult cases, but consulting his Guardian and Coun- 
sellors. In governing the missions, a missionary could 
well say as was said of Elias, that he lay down and 
rested under the shade of a Juniper. (3d Bk. of Kings, 
5th verse.) *'He cast himself down and slept in the 
shadow of the juniper tree." 

His obedience was truly sublime, he honored and 
obeyed each superior, even in the most trivial things ; his 
charity was so great that no one feared for their reputa- 
tion or good name; whenever in the conversations wherein 
he took part, he observed that there was danger that the 
precepts of charity would be forgotten, he said : ' ' Let us 
not talk of this, it is painful to me*" Hence the natural 
virtue which Plinius attributes to the juniper tree we can 
apply to our Junipero, namely, that the former grows in 
the wilderness and the snakes flee from its very shadow, 
so that men may sleep securely beneath its shade. 

He had no other enemies than those of God, and those 
who impeded the subjugation of the natives; the former 
he strenuously endeavored to convert, and towards the 
latter he never evinced an}^ resentment, but eventually 
won them to his side by his prudence, kindness and pa- 
tience; on seeing any of his plans thwarted, he would 
onlysa}^: *^ God wills it so, the time of the harvest has 
not yet arrived for us." The officer whose conduct 
obliged him to undertake a long and painful journey to 
Mexico, in order to obtain favorable dispositions for 
these settlements, being recalled to Mexico, feared 
that he might not be received kindly by the Vice- 
roy, and availed himself of the influence of another 
missionary to obtain a letter of recommendation, and 



141 

Fr. Junipero gave it so willingly, that when the officer 
arrived at Mexico his reception was most gracious, 
and he obtained a promotion to captaincy. 

His charity towards the poor was so marked that he 
employed not only his salaiy, but the alms for masses, 
and he would even go without food for the purpose of 
enabling him to contribute to the needy; with his own 
hands he fashioned their under-garments, and sought to 
teach the savages to make and repair them. Only four 
days before his death, an old Indian woman, eighty years 
of age, came to see Fr. Junipero, and in the presence of 
Fr. Palou, the holy, dying man came from his bed-room, 
bearing a blanket which he presented to his aged visitor. 
After his death it was discovered, that to supply her, he 
had remained with but half a blanket. In his diet he 
was most frugal, he never ate meat, contenting himself 
with fish and fruit, which were, he used to say, the 
nourishment of the Mother of God. He slept little, 
spending the greater portion of each night in prayer and 
contemplation. He displayed an admirable spirit of 
fortitude in the many trials and difficulties with which 
he was surrounded in establishing the missions. When 
the missionaries were about to abandon San Diego 
and return to Lower California, Fr. Junipero resolved to 
remain there alone. With equal fortitude he overcame 
the obstacles incident to the task of rehabilitating that 
mission. 

His faith was lively and constant, and his hope firm, 
hence he employed his whole lifetime iu propagation of 
the holy faith in which he so firmly believed, and was 
ever ready to shed his blood in its defence. 

At one time a false rumor alarmed the soldiers 
and missionaries at Monterey, and Fr. Palou tells 
us, that although the report was not fully credited, 
still the soldiers were uneasy. A few days after 
the savage massacre of San Diego, an Indian wo- 



142 

man, who was a christian, went trembling and weep- 
ing to the corporal, telling him that the Zanjones 
were coming down the canon in great numbers, and well 
armed, as if ready to fight. As soon as the corporal 
heard this, without examining whether the statement was 
true or otherwise, he sent word to the officer of the pre- 
sidio, who mounted his horse and came with his troops 
to protect the mission. Filled with joy at the prospect 
of giving his life for Christ, Fr. Junipero communicated 
this news to his priests. Behold! Fathers and compan- 
ions, said he, the long desired hour has arrived; they tell 
us the Zanjones are here, and we have but to reanimate 
our courage and prepare for the worst. Going out they 
saw the troops preparing for defence; the danger to 
which they were exposed was indeed great, since they 
resided in six different huts, built of pales or lumber and 
thatched with tiles, thus forming a very inadequate pro- 
tection. It was suggested to the President, that during 
the night all should sleep in an adobe room which served 
a,s a blacksmiths forge. The Fathers accordingly took 
shelter in this retreat, and passed the night in listening 
to narratives of the many encounters Fr. Junipero had 
had with Indians. When morning dawned no Zanjones 
could be seen. Either the rain, which fell heavily that 
night, prevented their coming, or the Indian woman only 
imagined the danger. 

Fr. Junipero was a devout client of St. Joseph, as we 
have already had occasion to see; he was also devoted to 
St. Bernardine of Sienna, having obtained through the 
intercession of that saint the cure of one of his neo- 
phytes at San Carlos, who had been nearly crushed to 
death under a pine tree which had fallen upon him. He 
had the facts relating to this incident painted on canvas, 
and placed in the church for the edification of new christ- 
ians. 

His zeal for the decency of divine worship and for all 
that pertained to the celebration of the mysteries of the 



143 

Catholic church was undeniable, and was shown by his 
solicitude in having the sacristies well replenished with 
sacred yestments and vessels; by his instructions to his 
missionaries to ask something for the service of the altar, 
when writing to Mexico; and by the great solemnity with 
which he kept the feasts of our Lord and the Blessed 
Yirgin Mary, and by the fervor which he displayed when 
preaching. Having heard that Pope Clement XIII. had 
ordered the preface of the Most Holy Trinity to be sung 
or said at mass on those Sundays that had no proper 
preface, he was overjoyed and exclaimed: "God bless 
the Pope, who has ordered such a devout preface ! Would 
to God that the feast of the Most Holy Trinity were 
raised to double the first class, that we might in imitation 
of our Father, St. Francis, celebrate the office of the 
Most Holy Trinity with a solemn feast." When the Ind- 
ians sang the "Tota Pulchra es " he shed tears of devo- 
tion. He also displayed similar feeling during the 
singing of the Passion in Holy Week ; and upon Holy 
Saturday his emotion was so marked that he was unable 
to sing the " Gloria," and many were the tears he shed in 
the recitation of the stations of that Holy Cross which he 
had erected throughout California. 

Fr. Palou finishes the chapter reciting the heroic vir- 
tues of this servant of God, with the remark that the last 
words of Fr. Junipero Serra to him and to all the by- 
standers were : " Let us go to rest." We trust and believe 
that his soul is now resting in God, in the company of St. 
Augustine, the great Doctor of the church, whose office 
he recited a few moments before expiring. Before con- 
cluding we will say something of the resting-place of the 
mortal remains of the hero of these pages. 



CHAPTEE XXI. 



MISSION OF CARMELO. ITS RUINS AND ITS RESTORATION. 



The greatest ambition of Catholics is to be buried in 
consecrated ground, and even those who are lukewarm 
fear nothing so much as to be deprived of christian burial, 
a punishment which the church inflicts only on those who 
die in a duel, or commit suicide, or who are public and 
scandalous sinners, refusing to receive the sacraments 
and to be reconciled to the church. But the most cher- 
ished desire of the Catholic is to be allowed the privilege 
of being buried within the actual precincts of the church, 
a privilege which was at first granted only to holy martyrs, 
but which became very common in the middle ages. But 
the honor of being buried inside of the sanctuary has 
been always reserved to bishops and priests, and it lias 
been considered proper that they should find their final 
resting-place as close as possible to that altar where they 
so often offered the Immaculate Lamb of God. We are 
not astonished, then, that the saintly Junipero had only 
one request to make before dying, namely, to be buried 
in the sanctuary, near his fellow-laborer and companion, 
Fr. Crespi. This wish was carried out by Fr. Palou, as 
is testified in the Eecords of the Dead, kept to this day 
in the church of Monterey, and which reads as follows : 

"On the 29th of August, 1784, in the church of this 
Mission of San Carlos de Monterey, in the ' Presbiterio ' 



145 

(sanctuary) on the gospel side, before tlie altar of our 
Ladj of Dolours, the office of the dead having been 
recited, and High Requiem Mass having been sung, with 
all the accompanying ceremonies and functions prescribed 
in the manual of the order for the funeral of the religious, 
with the assistance of Brother Christoval Diaz, chaplain 
of the packet-boat San Carlos, anchored in this port, and 
the Rev. Fathers, Preachers, Friars Buenaventura, Sitjar, 
Minister of the Mission of San Antonio, and Mathias of 
Santa Catalina, Minister of this Mission. I gave ecclesi- 
astical burial to the body of the Rev. Father Lecturer, 
Fri^ar Junipero Serra, President and Founder of these 
Missions, who was born in the Holy Province of Mallorca, 
where he took his habit, on the 14th of September, 1730, 
aged nineteen years, two months, and twenty-one days, 
where he proved himself to be a true and learned 
religious, and where he taught with great success thd 
philosophical course, I having the honor to be one of his 
scholars. When that course was finished, he was ap- 
pointed Professor of the First Class of Sacred Theology, 
in the University of the Island of Mallorca, and was there 
honored with the tassel (borla) of Doctor of that Faculty. 
Having filled the Professor's chair to the satisfaction of 
the University and the Holy Province, he was universally 
considered uncommonly learned and eloquent in the pul- 
pit, and attracted the attention of both universities, which 
institutions recommended and praised his sermons as 
being of the greatest importance. Highly and generally 
esteemed, and enlightened by God, he renounced those 
honors which were offered him, and those which he had a 
right to anticipate, and sought to employ the talents 
which God had given him in the conversion of the Gentile 
Indians. Having obtained his superior's permission, he 
joined in the year 1749 the mission which was then in 
Cadiz, and which was destined to promote the propaga- 
tion of the faith through the Mission of San Fernando, in 
Mexico, at which latter place he arrived on the first day 



146 

of January, 1750. He remained in that college till tlie 
beginning of June of the same year, when he was sent to 
the Mission of Sierra Gorda (which had been founded for 
six years), and where he worked with watchfulness and 
zeal, and served as a christian exemplar. Nine years after 
he was recalled from his missionary charge, to preside 
over the contemplated establishments at the river San 
Saba, which were, however, frustrated by the death of the 
Yiceroy. He remained in the college, employed in giving 
missions. He likewise assisted in the duties of the 
Sainted Tribunal of the faith, in accordance with the 
orders of his commissary, discharging this service to the 
satisfaction of the tribunal. In administering the mis- 
sions amongst the brethren, he remained till June, 1767, 
when he was called by the Eev. Father Guardian of the 
college, and named President of the sixteen Missions of 
Old California, which had been controlled previously by 
the Kev. Fathers the ex-Jesuits. He remained one year 
in Old California, the Missions of Loreto being under his 
charge. During that period he visited those institutions 
several times, comprising within his journey those located 
both to the south and north of his abode as well. In 
April, 1769, he left Loreto, with a land expedition, in 
search of the port of San Diego, and arrived at the fron- 
tier of Ancient California. On his way he founded the 
Mission of San Fernando de Yillacata. Arriving at the 
port of San Diego, he rested there whilst the expedition 
went to look for the port of Monterey. He founded the 
Mission of San Diego, in 1769. He then went up by sea 
for the purpose of discovering Monterey, and aided in 
founding this mission. He continued, as circumstances 
would permit, to build up the remainder of the missions, 
as may be seen at the present time in the parochial books 
of foundations. During fourteen years of his life in Cali- 
fornia, he traveled much. He once went to Mexico, to 
procure means for these spiritual conquests; while, during 
the rest of his travels, he visited the California missions, 



147 

striving to animate his dependants with zeal and prudence. 
His visits were made oftener after he received the au- 
thority to confirm, which his zeal caused him to solicit. 
Within the period during which he exercised that faculty, 
he confirmed 5,307. About one month and a half after 
the expiration of his powers, he delivered up his soul to 
his Creator, at the age of seventy years and nine months, 
less four days, having been an apostolic missionary thirty- 
five years, four months and a half. He prepared himself 
for death by making a general confession, as he had al- 
ready done several times. Finding that the complaint in 
his chest was getting worse, and that he had some fever, 
on the 27th of the month he went on foot to the church. 
He there received the last sacred rites on his knees, to 
the edification of the people, and in their presence re- 
ceived the Holy Viaticum, as ordained in the Koman 
Seraphic Eitual. When the ceremony commenced, the 
Father was on his knees, chanting with his sonorous 
voice, and to our astonishment, the ' Tan tum Ergo.' In 
the same posture he gave thanks to our Lord; after which 
he returned to his room. At night he asked for the holy 
oils, and repeated with us the Penitential Psalms and the 
Litanies. The remainder of the same night he passed 
giving thanks to God, sometimes on his knees, and some- 
times sitting on the floor. He did not take to his bed, 
but was always dressed in his habit and cloak. At the 
break of day he asked me to give him the Plenary Indul- 
gence, which he received kneeling. On the morning of 
the 28th he was visited by the captain of the bark, Don 
Jose Canizares, and chaplain. He received them sitting, 
expressing gratitude for their visit. He embraced the 
chaplain, giving thaoks to God that, after traveling so 
much, they had arrived at last to throw a little earth on 
his remains. A few minutes after making this remark 
he said that he felt some fear, and asked me to read aloud 
the recommendations for the soul, which I did. He then 
responded as if in good health, and exclaimed with de- 



148 

light : ' Thank God ! I am now without fear, and have 
nothing to dread. I feel better; let us go out.' He then 
arose, and afterwards sat down at the table and took a 
little broth. He then wished to rest, taking nothing off 
but his cioak. He laid tranquilly for a time, and then 
rested in the Lord. Without making any further sign he 
delivered his spirit unto the Creator, a little after two 
o'clock in the afternoon of the 28th, the feast of San Au- 
gustine, Doctor of the Church. When the bells began to 
toll, the little town was in a state of commotion; the 
Indians cried, lamenting the death of their good Father, 
as likewise all the people, whether on shore or on board 
the ship. All asked for a remnant of the habit he had 
worn. They even went so far as to cut within the church 
pieces from the habit in which Fr. Junipero died. Before 
death, he ordered (without letting any of those present 
know of it) the carpenter of the presidio to make his coffin. 
We promised, if the multitude would hold their peace, to 
devote a tunic of the deceased Father to scapulars for 
their benefit. Notwithstanding this, those who guarded 
the body in the church appropriated locks of his hair as 
keepsakes. This they were induced to do because of their 
regard for the departed. His funeral was attended by 
every one, whether on shore or aboard ship, each one 
doing what he could in honor of the deceased Father. 
The captain of the bark utilized his artillery in conferring 
upon the deceased all the honors of a General, and the 
Royal Presidio of Monterey responded to the salute. The 
same marks of respect were repeated on the 4th day of 
September, with vigil and high mass, at which the same 
people attended. Upon this occasion another clergyman 
officiated, namely. Rev. Fr. Antonio Paterna, minister of 
the Mission of San Luis Obispo, who could not arrive in 
time for the funeral. And that everything said may 
appear of record, I sign this in said mission, on the 5th 
day of September, 1784. 

FR. FRANCISCO PALOU." 



149 

Have not the facts we have translated from the Records 
of Death been already told in the life of Fr. Junipero; 
and if so, why are they repeated now ? I answer by sim- 
ply saying that I have been requested to insert them in 
this book as a recapitulation of what has been described 
in detail. Owing to the concise manner in which these 
facts are thus given, newspaper reporters and tourists 
have frequently commented upon and copied them. Be- 
fore concluding, it may be proper to answer the question 
as to what became of that church of stone, of which Fr. 
Junipero spoke when, just before dying, he requested Fr. 
Palou to lay his body close by that of Fr. Crespi, remark- 
ing: ^'When they build the church of stone, let them 
throw me where they like." Can we for a moment suspect 
that his religious friends had so little respect for his 
memory as to let him be buried outside of consecrated 
ground ? By no means. Why, then, is no notice taken 
of the removal of the remains of Fr. Crespi and Fr. Juni- 
pero from the old church to the new one? It is the 
general opinion of the old residents of Monterey that the 
new stone church, alluded to by Father Junipero, was 
built on the same spot where the old edifice stood, and 
according to this supposition the graves of the two first 
missionaries remained undisturbed and enclosed within 
the sanctuary of the new church, on the gospel side, as 
they were in the temporary building. It is to be regretted 
that nothing can be found in the old records of that parish 
concerning the year of the construction of the new church; 
but it is believed that it was soon after the death of Fr. 
Junipero, and before the close of the last century. The 
church of stone remained in use till after the mission was 
secularized; then it was abandoned, and modern vandals 
began to demolish it, and to take beams and materials 
from it to aid in building their farm-houses. The author 
has been told that about the middle of this century $500 
would have repaired the church, and thus preserved to 
our time the beautiful monument of Carmelo. But that 



150 

sum was as difficult to obtain in those days as $15,000 
would be now, which latter amount would be necessary to 
make the needed repairs. Those who are not acquainted 
with the facts blame our ecclesiastical authorities for 
having permitted this and other mission buildings to go 
to ruin, but such critics forget the thousand difficulties 
by which our superiors were surrounded, and the thou- 
sands of dollars they were forced to expend in order to 
reclaim these very missions from the hands of those who, 
without right, settled upon the mission lands. While law- 
suits were pending, storms and rapine were working havoc 
on these sacred walls, so that when justice was done, and 
the missions restored to their proper owners, some of them 
were in ruins, and our Bishops found themselves heavily 
in debt, mainly on account of these protracted law-suits. 
They were pressed, also, by the urgent demands for more 
churches and schools in the central locations. In some 
places, as in Carmelo, the old church is far from the 
modern town, and of no use except as a reminder of days 
gone by. 

Having visited the ruins of Carmelo many times during 
the last twenty years, the author, each time, has seen 
additional signs of decay and ruin. The present pastor of 
Monterey, the zealous and energetic Yery Eev. A. Cassa- 
nova, Y. F., has sought, since he took charge of Monterey, 
in 1868, to save Carmelo Mission, but owing to the fact 
that the town has decreased in importance, it is now 
scarcely able to support its pastor; and had he not means 
of his own, his situation would, at times, not be a pleas- 
ant one. How, then, could he afford to spend thousands 
in the reconstruction of the old mission ? He has, from 
time to time, appealed to the public, but in vain. Seeing, 
however, that a more propitious occasion than the first 
Centennial of the death of Fr. Junipero Serra could not 
be found to make another effort to save the Mission of 
Carmelo, with a determination peculiar to his character, 
he has taken the work into his own hands, and before 



151 

these lines will appear in print lie will have spent tlie last 
cent of his savings. Trusting in the generosity of the 
few who will follow his noble example, we cherish the 
hope that the walls of the old church will be protected, 
the sacred precincts roofed in, a new altar erected, and 
that when the 28th of August of this year 1884 arrives, 
we will hear once more within those sacred precincts the 
voice of the minister of God begging eternal rest for the 
souls of Frs. Junipero Serra, Crespi, Lopez, Louzen, and 
for the souls of the Governors who are also there buried. 
I close my life of Fr. Junipero Serra, fondly wishing 
that before it appears in print, a marble slab will show us 
the spot where lie the mortal remains of the President of 
the California Missions; and let us hope that the present 
Pastor of Monterey, who, in 1882, succeeded in finding 
the bodies of those four priests buried inCarmelo, will be 
rewarded by further identifying the mortal remains of the 
hero of these pages, which have been written only to per- 
petuate the memory of a poor Franciscan, who left honors, 
relatives and friends to spend his life in laboring for the 
conversion of the Aborigines of Alta California. 




CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 



Birth, studies and religious profession of Fr. Junipero Serra 
page 5 

CHAPTER II. 

Serra solicits and obtains permission to go among Pagan 
Nations — His voyage to Cadiz — Thence to America . . page 8 

CHAPTER III. 

Father Junipero is sent to the Missions of Sierra Gorda — ■ 
The great zeal with which he works — The Mission flour- 
ishes page 14 

CHAPTER IV. 

Father Junipero Serra exercises his ministry in different 
parts of Mexico, before being sent to California page 19 

CHAPTER V. 

He goes to California with fifteen other missionaries — His 
works page 23 



154 
CHAPTER VI. 

The expedition by land , . . .page 27 

CHAPTER VII. 

Discoveiy of the harbor and bay of San Francisco — Minute 
details of the expedition and incidents of the voyage, page 34 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Father Junipero Serra establishes the first mission in Upper 
California — What happened then .page 39 

CHAPTER IX. 

Establishment of the Mission of San Carlos at Monterey, 
■ page 47 

CHAPTER X. 

Arrival of the Missionaries — Establishment of the Mission of 
San Antonio— Removal of the San Carlos Mission to Car- 
mel , page 55 

CHAPTER XI. 

Founding of the Mission of San Gabriel — Arrival of six mis- 
sionaries at San Diego — The port of San Francisco again 
visited page 61 

CHAPTER XII. 

Journey of Father Junipero to the Capitol of Mexico — Inci- 
dents in his travel s^Success obtained by his visit, .page 69 



155 
CHAPTER XIII. 

Exploration by sea to the north of Monterey page 75 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Apostolic labors of Father Junipero Serra after his return 
from Mexico — Father Jayme is put to death in his Mission 
of San Diego page 82 

CHAPTER XV. 

Father Junipero goes to San Diego — Useless efforts to re- 
established the Mission — Arrival of troops— The Mission is 
re-established, and that of San Juan Capistrano founded 
, , ^ page 90 

CHAPTER XVI. 

Establishment of the Missions of San Francisco and Santa 
Clara — Wise orders given by the Viceroy — Father Junipero 
visits these Missions and founds the Pueblo of San Jose, 
-page 94 

CHAPTER XVII. 

Father Junipero receives from the Holy See faculties to con- 
firm — He exercises his new powers in Monterey and other 
missions — New Government — Death of Bucareli — Difficul- 
ties page 108 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

Establishment in the Channel of Santa Barbara — Founda- 
tion of San Buenaventura — Sad occurrence in the Rio Col- 
orado page 114 



156 (^yl^. 

CHAPTER XIX. 

Last Yisit of Fr. Junipero to the missions north and south of 
Monterey ^^^ 



CHAPTER XX. 

Exemplary death and imposing funeral of the Yen. Father 
Junipero 



Serra— His virtues P^g^ 129 



CHAPTER XXI. 

Mission of Carmelo, its ruins and its restoration. . .page U^ 









V 



ERRATA. 



. . * /> " should read "was well 
on page 5, instead of " wa well mstructed, should 

instructed." 1707" should read " 13tli of 

Onpage9,insteadof "13th of Apnl, 1797, 

nn^!; 20, instead of "t.e ea.e.s eonsfde^tion," should .ead 

•■'":: r—oT-thedateof the — 

""C:": — of "washoto,.. should .ead -washo.ne... 



